Yang Jiechi Meets with President Macky Sall of Senegal

On December 20, 2019 local time, Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, met with President Macky Sall of Senegal in Dakar.

Yang Jiechi said, Senegal was the first West African country that President Xi Jinping visited. The two heads of state have held multiple meetings and reached important and broad consensus, leading China-Senegal relations onto a path of rapid development. Bilateral cooperation in various areas is both practical and efficient, and has led to the accomplishment of many important projects, including the construction of the Thies-Touba highway and wells in rural areas, bringing about both social and economic benefits. The Chinese side supports the Senegalese side's efforts in implementing the national revitalization plan and its hosting of the 2022 Summer Youth Olympics, stands ready to further explore the potential of bilateral cooperation in infrastructure development and industrial park construction, and encourages companies of both countries to discuss diversified ways of cooperation. Both sides should fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance strategic communication and mutual support, consolidate the good development momentum of bilateral relations, and elevate the political mutual trust and friendly cooperation to a new and higher level.

Macky Sall said, Senegal and China share high-level mutual trust and always lend firm support to each other, which demonstrates the high level of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. The Senegalese side firmly supports and actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative. China's achievements in its reform and development have been globally recognized, setting an example for African countries to explore paths suited to their respective national realities. Macky Sall thanked the Chinese side for helping the country develop its economy and society and support its efforts to host the Summer Youth Olympic Games, and believed that bilateral cooperation in various fields will be further boosted.

The two sides also exchanged views on deepening China-Africa cooperation, and expressed the willingness to take the opportunities of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and the two nations being co-chairs of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to jointly boost implementation of the results of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and to promote China-Africa cooperation for new and greater progress, so as to benefit people in both China and Africa.

On the same day, Yang Jiechi also met with Foreign Minister Amadou Ba of Senegal.