Senegalese president: China's projects 'perfect'

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-11 20:30

TOUBA, Senegal -- "I will tell President Hu Jintao that the construction quality of the Chinese companies is perfect. I am quite satisfied with the work of the Chinese companies," Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade said.

A woman works in a field near Ross Bethio, Senegal. Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade said he was honored that Chinese President Hu Jintao would visit the country soon and he wanted to tell Hu that the construction quality of the Chinese companies is perfect. [Agencies]

In Touba, a holy city some 200 km east of Dakar, the 83-year-old president visited the modernization and reconstruction project undertaken by China Henan International Cooperation Group Co., Ltd. (CHICO) on Tuesday.

The project, expected to last for five years with an estimated investment of US$200 million, includes the reconstruction of roads, water supply and drainage systems as well as urban forestation.

Since the two countries re-established bilateral relations more than three years ago, China has carried out a series of aid projects in Senegal, including the National Grand Theater in Dakar, an electricity transmission and transformation project in the capital, renovation of 11 provincial and district-level stadiums, and a government network project, the president told Xinhua.

Wade said he was honored that Chinese President Hu Jintao would visit the country soon.

Hu will pay state visits to Saudi Arabia, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Mauritius from February 10 to 17.

Accompanied by Prime Minister Cheikh Hadjibou Soumare and several cabinet ministers as well as CHICO general manager Bao Fei, Wade visited five construction sites in the scorching sun.

He told Bao that he emphasized at the latest African Union summit that African countries needed to build high-quality roads for development.

Some African countries invested a large sum on repairing poor roads every year which wasted both manpower and money, the president said.

"China made great contributions to the infrastructure construction in Senegal," he said, shaking the hands of Bao.

Shortly after the two-hour visit, Bao was surprised to receive two sizzling roasted lambs after he returned to the construction site. The gift was from President Wade.