现在，中国是塞内加尔第二大贸易伙伴、第一大花生进口国，双边贸易额10余年间扩大了16倍。中国是塞内加尔第一大融资来源国，由中国融资建设的方久尼大桥、捷斯－图巴高速公路等项目将有力促进塞内加尔经济发展。中方提供融资实施的乡村打井工程将建设251口水井和1800公里管线，解决塞内加尔七分之一人口的吃水用水问题，中方援建的国家大剧院、黑人文明博物馆、竞技摔跤场等为传承和发扬塞内加尔文化传统作出了重要贡献。

　　“路遥知马力，日久见人心。”当年，桑戈尔总统看到中国援助塞内加尔的农业专家同当地人民一样劳动、一样满手泥巴，非常感动。今天，中国专家仍在田间地头，同塞内加尔兄弟姐妹一起切磋水稻和蔬菜种植技术。友谊在两国人民心中扎下了根。2013年，65岁的塞内加尔老人比拉马参加“感知中国”知识竞赛。他从全球25万名参赛者中脱颖而出，获得了最高奖，并被邀请到中国旅游，实现了多年的访华夙愿。现在，每年有近800名塞内加尔留学生在中国学习，往来两国经商、旅游人数以20%以上的速度递增。每一通电话、每一封邮件、每一次握手都会多一分相知，人民友谊的涓涓细流正汇成江河海洋。

Today, China is Senegal's second largest trading partner and the top importer of Senegalese peanuts. Our trade volume grew by 16 times in just over a decade. China is also Senegal's biggest source of financing. The many China-funded projects, including the Foundiougne bridge and the Thies-Touba highway, will strongly boost Senegal's economic growth. The rural water supply project that includes 251 wells and 1800-kilometer pipelines funded by China will benefit one seventh of Senegal's population. The National Grand Theater, the Museum of Black Civilization and the National Wrestling Arena, built with Chinese assistance, stand as important venues to carry forward the culture and traditions of Senegal.

A Chinese proverb has it that, "Just as distance tests a horse's strength, time will reveal a person's sincerity." Decades ago, President Senghor was deeply touched when he saw Chinese agricultural experts toiling in the field side by side with local Senegalese, mud on their hands. Today, Chinese experts are still out there, working with their Senegalese brothers and sisters on rice and vegetable farming technologies. That's how friendship has taken deep roots in the hearts of our two peoples. In 2013, Birama Diadji TOURE, a 65-year-old Senegalese, took part in the Experience China knowledge contest and emerged winning the top prize out of 250,000 contestants from all over the world. Birama was later invited to visit China, fulfilling his long-cherished dream. Right now, some 800 Senegalese students are studying in China. The number of business and tourist travels between the two countries have been increasing by over 20% annually. With every telephone call, every email and every handshake, our mutual understanding goes deeper and the bond of friendship becomes stronger.

　　有句沃洛夫谚语说，“每个人都是他人的慰藉”。这同中国人常说的“我为人人，人人为我”是同样的意思。中国同包括塞内加尔在内的广大非洲国家从来都是休戚与共的命运共同体，有着相同的历史遭遇，面临共同的发展任务，怀揣对美好生活的共同追求。我们应该携起手来构建更加紧密的中非命运共同体，实现共同发展、共同繁荣。

　　我在2013年提出共建“一带一路”倡议，目的是促进基础设施建设和互联互通，对接各国发展战略，实现共同发展。包括塞内加尔在内的许多非洲国家高度认同“一带一路”合作理念，愿积极参与“一带一路”建设。今年9月，中非合作论坛北京峰会将隆重召开。这次会议将把共建“一带一路”倡议、联合国2030年可持续发展议程、非盟《2063年议程》以及非洲各国发展战略结合起来，为中非合作开辟新天地。我们愿以此为契机，推动中塞关系实现更大发展。

"Nit, nit ay garabam (Man is the remedy of man)", says a Wolof proverb. Similarly, there is a Chinese saying to the effect of "one for all, all for one". Having gone through thick and thin together, China, Senegal and the vast African countries are bound by similar historical experience, same development tasks and shared aspiration for a better life. To achieve common development and prosperity, we need to join hands to build an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future.

In 2013, I put forward the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a pathway to common development through improved infrastructure and connectivity and greater synergy of development strategies. It has been warmly welcomed by Senegal and many other African countries, who have since shown great interest in joining the BRI cooperation. This September, a Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in Beijing. By bringing together the BRI, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Agenda 2063 of the African Union and African countries' national development plans, the summit will break new grounds for China-Africa cooperation. It also presents us with an opportunity to elevate China-Senegal relations to a higher level.