Senegal's restoration of diplomatic ties with China is a "correct" decision, said Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade Saturday.

Wade, who is here for the weekend Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), made the remarks when meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Senegal restored diplomatic ties with China in October 2005.

Wade said Senegal is satisfied with the development of bilateral cooperation, which has expanded to all the fields that his country expects to cover.

Statistics showed that trade between China and Senegal in 2005 reached 141 million U.S. dollars.

Wade said the cooperation agreements between the two countries are being carried out actively and Senegal will make more efforts to promote ties with China.

Hu said the Chinese government highly values relations with Senegal and sees the country as an important cooperative partner in Africa.

The Chinese president said the relations between China and Senegal have developed smoothly and rapidly with frequent personnel exchanges, increasing economic and trade cooperation and fruitful collaboration in the health sector.

"We are ready to join hands with Senegal to push China-Segenal friendly cooperation into a new stage," Hu said.

At the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit, Hu announced a package of aid and assistance measures for Africa, including 3 billion U.S. dollars of preferential loans in the next three years and the exemption of more debt owed by poor African countries. Source: Xinhua