STORY: China-Africa cooperation forum a platform for fruitful exchanges, says Senegalese president
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 30, 2024
DATELINE: Sept. 7, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:57
LOCATION: Dakar
CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)
2. various of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Fay
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): BASSIROU DIOMAYE FAYE, Senegalese president
4. various of the news center of the FOCAC summit
5. various of infrastructural projects in Africa
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): BASSIROU DIOMAYE FAYE, Senegalese president
7. various of street views in China
8. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): BASSIROU DIOMAYE FAYE, Senegalese president
9. various of "China aid" projects in Africa

STORYLINE:

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) represents an innovative framework for South-South cooperation and a platform for fruitful exchange and dynamic partnership, and China and Africa will establish a stronger and higher-level partnership in the future, said Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Faye made the remarks in a recent interview with Chinese media in Dakar, Senegal.

SOUNDBITE 1 (French): BASSIROU DIOMAYE FAYE, Senegalese president
"Senegal has held the co-presidency of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) since the Beijing summit in 2018, and I have inherited this legacy. It is well-known that the relations between China and Africa are characterized by a dynamic of strengthening and diversification, and that FOCAC is an important tool in supporting this cooperation.
The summit is therefore a key moment to review the Sino-African partnership, consolidate achievements, and outline new perspectives for collaboration in mutually beneficial areas.
FOCAC represents an innovative framework for South-South cooperation that has already proven its worth. It is a platform for fruitful exchanges and dynamic partnerships to address Sino-African challenges.
Since its inception in 2000, FOCAC has helped to solidify solidarity between our two regions, while establishing concrete mechanisms to promote economic and social development.
As a platform for regular dialogue, FOCAC, through the adoption of initiatives and action plans, enables the mobilization of resources to finance structuring projects in Africa, drawing inspiration from the Chinese model.
Finally, FOCAC amplifies the voices of China and Africa on the international stage, as it notably advocates for equality and mutual trust, win-win cooperation, solidarity, and mutual assistance."

In 2016, China and Senegal upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, with Senegal becoming the first West African country to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

In 2021, Senegal, as the co-chair of FOCAC, hosted the 8th FOCAC Ministerial Conference in Dakar.

SOUNDBITE 2 (French): BASSIROU DIOMAYE FAYE, Senegalese president
"As the co-chair of FOCAC and host of the 8th FOCAC Ministerial Conference, Senegal has witnessed significant achievements of this partnership, particularly in infrastructure with the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Many roads, highways, ports, airports, and railways have been constructed. Significant investments have also been made in agriculture, technical and vocational training, water management, and health.
The Senegalese president highlighted China's modernization as a source of development inspiration and expressed a hope to strengthen future cooperation with China."

SOUNDBITE 3 (French): BASSIROU DIOMAYE FAYE, Senegalese president
With a policy of reforms and openness, China has achieved impressive progress on the path to modernization, thanks to an approach that combines rapid economic development, poverty reduction, and improvement of living conditions for its population.
It is a source of inspiration for many developing countries, including Senegal.
My goal is to work towards strengthening this cooperation to elevate it to a higher level, particularly in priority sectors such as agriculture, industrialization, water management, technical and vocational training, and digitalization."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Dakar.
(XHTV)