Dakar, May 7 (APS) – The President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, who received on Tuesday his Senegalese counterpart, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, on a friendly visit to Abidjan, affirmed to be in “total convergence ” points of view with the new Senegalese president
”We reviewed the situation in each of our countries, the efforts we are making, we welcomed the dynamism of cooperation and especially the strengthening of relations which have always marked the evolution in our two countries. We have achieved a total convergence of points of view. Whether on questions of democracy, regional cooperation or the international situation. We are totally in phase,” declared the Ivorian head of state after a tête-à-tête with his Senegalese counterpart.
In comments reported by AIP, the Ivorian Information Agency, the head of the Ivorian executive at the same time assured that he had agreed with the new Senegalese president on the need to strengthen efforts at ministerial level with a view to a revitalization of trade between the two countries.
”It’s true that there is a slight increase but I believe that this is not what our private sectors would like and I know that we can do more. We have a lot to discuss and we are optimistic,” he said.
Alassane Ouattara did not fail to insist on the fact that the discoveries of gas and oil in Senegal and Ivory Coast the economies of the two countries would in two or even three years have double-digit growth rates and contribute contribute significantly to improving the daily lives of populations.
”We considered that in economic matters, it was important to emphasize social issues and youth. This is what we are doing in Côte d’Ivoire, which has made it possible to significantly reduce the poverty rate over the last 10 years,” he argued.
He welcomed the choice made on Côte d’Ivoire by his host to whom he renewed his warm congratulations for his brilliant election in March and his wishes for every success in the exercise of his high functions.
The President of the Republic of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, praised ”the leadership and considerable efforts deployed by his Ivorian counterpart in strengthening stability, democracy and the promotion of development in Côte d’Ivoire” .
”You are in the wake of this great man who is President Félix Houphouët-Boigny,” insisted Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
”We can still do more, particularly in the priority sectors of agriculture with the development of cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire from which we want to draw inspiration, and in other areas such as livestock breeding, defense, security, education and even energy,” continued the head of state of Senegal.
He, in turn, considered that recent mining discoveries are a historic opportunity for the two governments to pool knowledge, efforts and strategies to obtain the best profits from these resources.
”Together we can exploit a lot of potential that exists in both countries and strengthen this economic and commercial cooperation that we have always maintained but which must, with each regime, experience greater growth,” he said. insisted.
This is the very first time that the two senior figures have met, after the election of the new Senegalese president on March 24.
In Abidjan, the Senegalese head of state is making his fourth official visit abroad, after Mauritania, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, since taking office on April 2.
At the inauguration of Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Alassane Ouattara was represented, on April 2, 2024, by his vice-president, Tiémoko Meyliet.
This visit also takes place following the accreditation of the new Ivorian ambassador to Senegal, Mamadou Haïdara, received on May 2 by Bassirou Diomaye Faye at the presidential palace.
AKS/MTN
