Senegal

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

In 2013, the friendly relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Senegal developed steadily, with fresh progress made in cooperation in various fields.

The two countries had frequent exchanges at various levels. In March, President Xi Jinping had a brief conversation with President Macky Sall on the sidelines of the BRICS Leaders-Africa Dialogue Forum in Durban, South Africa. In September, Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory message to Senegal's new Prime Minister Aminata Toure on her election. Also in September, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Mankeur Ndiaye, Senegal's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, during the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and they exchanged opinions on bilateral relations, Security Council reform and China-Africa cooperation.

In March, President Sall sent a congratulatory message to President Xi on his election. Between May and November, President Sall sent messages of sympathy to President Xi on separate occasions, including the earthquake in Lushan, Sichuan Province, the fire in Jilin Province, the earthquake in Gansu Province and the violent terrorist attack in Beijing on 28 October. In May, a delegation of the Alliance for the Republic, led by Mbaye Ndiaye, Member of its Steering Committee and Minister of State at the Presidency, visited China. The delegation met with Liu Yunshan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Member of its Secretariat, and had talks with Wang Jiarui, CPPCC Vice Chairman and Minister of the CPC International Department. In September, a delegation of cadres from the three-party ruling coalition of Senegal visited China.

In July, Senegal's new Ambassador to China Abdoulaye Fall presented his credentials to President Xi Jinping.

Business cooperation between the two countries advanced steadily. In 2013, the two countries signed four agreements on economic and technological cooperation. The Chinese government handed over the second and third phases of the stadium maintenance project. President and Prime Minister of Senegal attended relevant inauguration ceremonies separately. The fourth phase of the maintenance project and the construction of the Museum of Black Civilization were well under way. Efforts were made to speed up construction of Dakar Power Transmission Loop and Renovation and Extension of the Power Grid in the Region of Dakar. The commercial contract on the Highway Project from Thies to Touba was concluded. The two sides signed a note on tariff exemption for Senegal's exports to China under 95% of tax items.

Exchanges in health and culture developed smoothly. In August, Senegal's Health Minister Eva Marie Coll Seck visited China to attend the Ministerial Forum on China-Africa Health Development. In September, the 15th Chinese medical team was sent to Senegal. Cultural and performing art troupes of the two countries exchanged over 20 visits.