The ruling party and government of Senegal will adhere to the
one-China policy, Senegalese Prime Minister Macky Sall said in
Beijing Tuesday.
Sall is heading a 34-strong delegation from the Democratic Party
of Senegal, comprising ministers, members of parliament, business
and media representatives.
Sall said the resumption of diplomatic relations between Senegal
and China was a strong impetus to the development of mutual
understanding and cooperation.
Sall made the remarks while meeting with Wu Guanzheng, a member
of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), in Beijing's Great
Hall of the People.
China and Senegal resumed diplomatic relations last October
after Senegal severed official links with Taiwan.
Since then, the two nations had made progress in political,
economic and educational cooperation, Wu said.
The deepening of bilateral links was in the basic interests of
both countries and both peoples, he said.
Chinese Ministry of Commerce figures show trade volume with
Senegal reached US$141 million last year, up 25.6 percent over the
previous year.
Wu said the efforts of both countries would ensure the continued
development of bilateral relations.
He said the Chinese government appreciated Senegal's adherence
to the one-China policy.
Sall said he admired the development achievements of the Chinese
people under the leadership of the CPC.
Sall is also the Deputy General Secretary of the Democratic
Party. He is the highest-ranking official to visit China since the
two countries resumed relations.
He is also expected to meet with Premier Wen Jiabao and give
interviews to major Chinese media organizations. Sall will also
visit Ningbo, an eastern city known for its vigorous private
sector, and Shanghai, where they will study infrastructure projects
and high-tech companies.
The delegation arrived Sunday morning for a nine-day tour at the
invitation of the CPC International Department.
Wu said the high-profile visit reflected the importance that the
Democratic Party attached to developing contacts with China and the
CPC. The CPC was willing to expand exchanges and cooperation with
the Democratic Party and other parties of Senegal.
(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2006)
