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)