Monday 23rd July, 2018
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were received by
Sall and his wife Marieme at the arena in the suburb of the Senegalese capital
of Dakar, where a large picture of Xi and Sall standing side by side was
DAKAR, July 23, (Xinhua) – Chinese President
Xi Jinping and his Senegalese counterpart, Macky Sall, attended here on Sunday
a handover ceremony of the National Wrestling Arena built with Chinese aid.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were received by
Sall and his wife Marieme at the arena in the suburb of the Senegalese capital
of Dakar, where a large picture of Xi and Sall standing side by side was hung
at the entrance.
The two couples saw a photo exhibition of the
project before appearing at the arena to a cheering crowd waving the national
flags of China and Senegal. Banners celebrating China-Africa relations and
China-Senegal friendship were seen hanging at the arena.
At the ceremony, the Chinese president handed
over to Sall the “golden key” of the project. Afterwards, they
watched a show of traditional Senegalese wrestling.
The National Wrestling Arena is a vivid
reflection of the profound friendship between the Chinese and the Senegalese,
Xi said.
Hailing Senegal as a country of culture, Xi
said China is ready to work with Senegal in committing itself to preserving and
carrying forward traditional cultures so as to promote cultural exchanges and
cooperation between the two sides.
Noting that wrestling is the national treasure
of Senegal, Sall extended heartfelt thanks to China for helping build such a
modern and multi-functional arena for his country.
The arena is a new emblem of Senegal-China friendship,
he added.
The arena, the first modern one in Africa, is
the largest aid project China has carried out in Senegal.
GNA