Recently, Xu Pao, Director General of FFRC, went to Beijing to visit Mr. Papa Sagna Mbaye, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Economy of Senegal, and Mr. Ibrahima Sory Sylla, Ambassador of Senegal in China, to exchange views on technical cooperation of aquaculture between China and Senegal.

Minister Papa Sagna Mbaye said that Senegal is rich in water resources, and fishery is one of Senegal’s important economic pillars, which contributes greatly to job creation, income growth and food security. With the decline of natural fishery resources, the development of Senegal’s aquaculture industry is imperative. He hoped that in cooperation with FFRC, they can strengthen the capacity building of technical personnel, increase the development of high-quality varieties and feed, and help Senegal realize the Plan for an Emerging Senegal (PSE) at an early date.

Ambassador Ibrahima Sory Sylla said that the Embassy of Senegal in China will actively work to build a bridge for aquaculture cooperation between China and Senegal, and be a propeller for fishery scientific and technological exchanges, technical cooperation, talent training, and economic and trade investment between China and Senegal.

Director Xu Pao introduced the history and cooperation achievements of FFRC’s cooperation projects with African countries, and looked forward to the development of aquatic seed industry in Africa. He said that in the future, under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Science and Technology, China International
Development Cooperation Agency and other ministries and commissions, FFRC is willing to strive to build fishery cooperation between China and Senegal into a model of practical cooperation in West Africa and even the whole African region, promote the transformation and upgrading of China-Africa fishery science and technology cooperation, improve quality and efficiency, and build a closer China-Africa community with a shared development.