On the occasion of the launch of China's 15th Five-Year Plan and the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic relations, the Chinese Ambassador to Senegal, Li Zhigang, issued a statement calling for "a new stage in building a China-Senegal community with a shared future." Emphasizing three key words—growth, well-being, and innovation—the diplomat highlighted the opportunities that China's new development plan could offer Senegal within the context of a rapidly expanding bilateral partnership. Here is the full text!

“Let us embark on a new stage in building a China-Senegal community with a shared future. The year 2026 marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa. The recently concluded Chinese National Two Sessions reviewed and adopted the government work report and the outlines of the 15th Five-Year Plan, setting the course for China’s development for the next five years and signaling that China, through its continued modernization, will continue to bring certainty and new momentum to global prosperity and stability. These three key words help us understand China’s new development plan and the opportunities it presents for China-Senegal cooperation.”

The first key word is "growth." During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the Chinese economy defied all odds and moved resolutely forward. China's GDP successively surpassed the milestones of 110, 120, 130, and 140 trillion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 5.4%. Contributing 30% to global economic growth, China is establishing itself as an engine and pillar of stability for the world economy. By 2026, it aims for economic growth of 4.5% to 5%, while also striving for performance exceeding expectations. This trajectory demonstrates a firm commitment to sustainable and high-quality development and will lay a solid foundation for achieving the goal of doubling per capita GDP by 2035 compared to 2020, thus positioning China among the middle-developed countries.

"Employment, income, education, health, elderly care, childcare and life expectancy"

The second key word is "well-being." As Chinese President Xi Jinping aptly emphasized, the well-being of the people is paramount in China's modernization with Chinese characteristics. Over the past five years, the well-being of the Chinese people has reached significant milestones: a 5.4 percent annual increase in per capita disposable income, a rise in average life expectancy to 79.25 years, and the establishment of a social security system of exceptional scope and scale on a global scale. Of the 20 major indicators included in the 15th Five-Year Plan, those related to people's well-being represent the largest proportion, covering seven areas: employment, income, education, health, elderly care, childcare, and life expectancy. They aim to guarantee basic necessities, expand coverage, and raise standards, thereby promoting the well-being of the people to the highest level.

The third keyword is "innovation." Innovation is a vital driving force for development. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China relied on innovation to stimulate its economy, enabling it to break into the top 10 of the global innovation rankings. China excels in the research and development and application of technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology, and its humanoid robots, capable of boxing and performing the yangge (traditional Chinese dance), have amazed the world, while its manufacturing sector is evolving into an "intelligent creation" industry. Within five years, China will accelerate its scientific and technological development, with a focus on developing new-quality productive forces. It will maintain an average annual growth rate of over 7% in R&D investment and increase the share of the key digital economy sector to 12.5%. This will bring new dynamics to responding to global challenges and promoting shared prosperity.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, as well as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchange. Chinese President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to China-Africa relations. He has promoted the principles of sincerity, effective results, friendship, and good faith, along with a sound understanding of justice and shared interests, elevating cooperation with Africa to unprecedented heights. In the first two months of this year, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchange, responded to letters from veterans of the Zimbabwe Liberation Army, and sent a congratulatory message to the 39th Summit of the African Union. This reflects the strong desire of the highest Chinese authorities to perpetuate the China-Africa friendship. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has continued a noble tradition followed for 36 years, whereby Chinese diplomacy begins each year with a visit by the Minister to Africa, demonstrating China's firm support for Africa's development and renewal.

"The implementation of China's 15th Five-Year Plan will offer Senegal new opportunities."

In recent years, under the leadership of the Chinese and Senegalese leadership, mutual political trust between our two countries has steadily deepened, and pragmatic cooperation has progressed solidly. After becoming the first West African country to sign the Belt and Road Initiative Cooperation Document in 2018, Senegal was among the first to sign the Framework Agreement for Economic Partnership for Shared Development with China in 2025, laying a solid foundation for the quantitative and qualitative improvement of bilateral cooperation. Throughout 2025, the volume of bilateral trade between China and Senegal reached a record high of over US$6.2 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.3 percent. China thus remains Senegal's largest trading partner and largest provider of bilateral financing.

In the future, the implementation of China's 15th Five-Year Plan will offer Senegal new opportunities and contribute to building a high-level China-Senegal community with a shared future. The Chinese side is willing to work with the Senegalese side to strengthen exchanges of experiences in state governance, promote strategic synergy between the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Senegal Vision 2050, fully utilize the dividends of China's zero tariff policy for 100% of tariff lines for the benefit of 53 African countries, and take advantage of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges and the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, in order to promote the effective implementation of the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, deepen mutual knowledge and affinity between the Chinese and Senegalese people, and perpetuate China-Senegal and China-Africa friendship from generation to generation.