Senegalese President Macky Sall said leaders have reaffirmed their aspiration to consolidate the friendship between Africa and China in the virtual "Extraordinary China-African Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19" summit on Wednesday.

Sall described the summit as "an excellent initiative," and also voiced support for the role of the World Health Organization in coordinating the global response to the epidemic.

The virtual summit was convened by China, South Africa, and Senegal. Sall is co-chairing the influential Forum on Africa-China Cooperation, while South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the current chairperson of the African Union.

Senegal reported 122 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, with 111 follow-up contact cases and 11 community-transmission cases, bringing the total to 5,369 in the West African country. A total of 73 patients have lost their lives, and 16 COVID-19 patients are in intensive care.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking at the summit, promised to help in building hospitals and sending medical experts to African countries.

Right after the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported on March 2 in Senegal, the Chinese medical team immediately shared China's anti-virus experience with Pikine National Hospital in suburb of Dakar.

The chief of the medical mission, Xu Wensheng, together with his respiratory physician Lai Deyi, also submitted detailed suggestions to the board of Pikine National Hospital to strengthen screening of suspected COVID-19 patients.

In his daily work, acupuncture physiotherapist Chen Li, shared with his Senegalese counterparts and patients how traditional Chinese medicine could help treat COVID-19.

The Children Hospital of Diamniadio, constructed by Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group in 2012, was also designated in March by Senegalese government as an isolation center for suspected cases.

Some Chinese companies and local Chinese businesses have contributed about 274,600 U.S. dollars to different programs launched by the government.

Hunan Provincial Construction Group, which constructed Senegal's National Wrestling Arena, has donated about 20,000 surgical masks. Twyford Ceramic, inaugurated last year by Senegalese president Macky Sall, also donated masks and disinfectant wipes.

The coronavirus has led to economic recession in some African countries.

China will cancel the debt of relevant African countries in the form of interest-free government loans that are due to mature by the end of 2020 within the FOCAC framework, Xi announced at the epidemic summit.

In early June, China has also announced repayment suspension for 77 developing countries and regions, including those in Africa, as part of a G20 program.

China was Senegal's second largest trading partner and biggest source of financing in 2018. Trade between the two partners was at 2.27 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, accelerated in 2019, and China has become one of the most popular destinations among Senegalese businesspeople, according to the Chinese Embassy in Senegal.

Read more: Graphics: A quick look at China-Senegal economic cooperation

(With inputs from Xinhua)