China and Senegal pledge to further deepen ties

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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Senegal on Saturday for the country's first state visit by a Chinese head of state in nine years amid rapidly growing bilateral ties in recent years. Both sides are looking to further deepen ties.

Xi was awarded Senegal’s highest honor – the Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lion – by Senegalese President Macky Sall during his visit. The honor was created to reward distinguished services and is "only assigned sparingly in order not to discredit it," according to Presidency of the Republic of Senegal's official website.

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First leg of Xi's African tour

President Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and the people, conveyed through President Sall cordial greetings and good wishes to the government and the people of Senegal.

Xi said it is his fourth visit to Africa since he assumed office as Chinese president in 2013, and that Senegal is the first stop of his ongoing African tour and his first visit to a West African country as Chinese president.

China and Senegal are good friends and good partners, Xi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, accompanied by Senegalese President Macky Sall, inspects the guard of honor at the airport in Dakar, Senegal, on July 21, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

The two nations, he said, have witnessed close political exchanges, ever increasing mutual trust, steady advancement of mutually beneficial cooperation, rich and colorful cultural and people-to-people exchanges and close coordination and cooperation on regional and international affairs.

Xi noted that he and Sall agreed to elevate the two countries' ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and reached many consensuses on expanding bilateral cooperation in 2016.

The Chinese president said he was glad to see that those consensuses have been implemented step by step to the benefit of the two peoples.

Two sides agree to deepen bilateral ties, multiple deals signed

Xi also noted he looks forward to having an in-depth exchange of views with Sall on bilateral relations and regional and international affairs of mutual concern.

Sall extended a warm welcome to Xi on behalf of the Senegalese government and the people. He said the arrangements of Xi's visit testifies to the fact that the Chinese side attaches great importance to its relations with Senegal.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with Senegalese President Macky Sall and his wife Marieme after Xi and Sall inspected the guard of honor at the airport in Dakar, Senegal, on July 21, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

The visit will play an important role in promoting the development of Senegal-China relations, as well as Africa-China ties, Sall said.

China has made remarkable achievements in development, he said, adding that his country looks forward to learning more from China's success and deepening cooperation between the two countries.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents, including the one on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative. Earlier during an interview with CGTN, President Sall said he fully supports the initiative as he "finds Senegal perfectly in Xi's vision."

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Sall believes it is "a project of global partnership that will connect people, which will facilitate international exchanges," adding that "he appreciates President Xi Jinping's vision of wisdom.

The Chinese president arrived in Senegal after finishing his state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday. Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were warmly received by Sall and his wife Marieme, as well as Prime Minister Mohammed Dionne, at the airport.

Senegal is the second stop in Xi's first overseas trip after being re-elected Chinese president in March. He has already visited the UAE and will also pay state visits to Rwanda and South Africa. Toward the end of his trip, he will attend the 10th BRICS summit in Johannesburg, and visit Mauritius during a stopover.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)