A Scholar Who Knocks at the Door to Friendship

Senegalese scholar Adama Gaye came from far away Africa to visit China in March when there was still a chill in the early spring air. He is not an ordinary scholar, but an African friend who has come to knock at the door to friendship.

The government of Senegal established diplomatic relations with China in December 1971, but tempted by the “money diplomacy” adopted by the Taiwan authorities severed diplomatic ties with China in January 1996. Since then, bilateral exchanges have been suspended and people-to-people contacts become difficult. In early 2004, Adama Gaye published an article entitled “Senegal: Who Lost China” in New Horizon, the most influential independent weekly in Senegal, which induced strong repercussions. In the article, he compared the short-sightedness of the government to “establish diplomatic relations” with Taiwan as picking up sesame seeds while throwing away watermelons. In December 2003 after the ministerial meeting of the China-Africa Forum, China exempted African countries 10.5 billion yuan of debt, and early this year when President Hu Jintao visited Gabon, several agreements on economic and trade cooperation were reached between China and Gabon, which played a very good role in promoting the economic development of African countries. But Senegal has gained only a few million US dollars and assistance in building a highway and cultural facilities from its association with Taiwan.

Adama Gaye is an expert on African affairs and an independent writer. He holds that the rapid economic development of China would play an important role in the future development of the world. Therefore, he has enthusiastically worked for the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Senegal and the People’s Republic of China. He is the first Senegalese to visit China since the two countries severed diplomatic relations.

As the proverb goes, seeing is believing. Adama Gaye will use his personal experience to persuade the leaders of Senegal to correct their mistakes. On this trip he visited Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. During his stay in Beijing, he called on the Department of African Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, China Institute of International Studies and People’s Daily, learned about China’s policy of reform and opening up, its foreign policy and the policy of one country, two systems. He learned to understand from a historical angle the fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The Central Government of the People’s Republic of China declared on October 1, 1949 the founding of the PRC, replacing the government of the Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and the only legitimate representative in international affairs, thus ended the historical place of the Republic of China. Since the ruling clique of Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan, though they still call it “The Republic of China” and “The Government of the Republic of China”, they have long and completely lost their rights to represent China to exercise state sovereignty. In fact it has always been a local authority on the Chinese territory. Adama Gaye said, it was a foolish act of the Senegalese leaders to establish the so-called diplomatic relations with Taiwan. To maintain “diplomatic relations” with Taiwan has restricted Senegal’s space for development and added that he would give lectures and write articles to let the Senegalese people get a clear understanding of the history and know about the real China.

In Shanghai Adama Gaye visited the Pudong financial and trade development zone, the 14th East China Export Commodity Fair, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre and the Shanghai Foreign investment Development Board. He told us, Senegal is planning to build a financial and trade zone and would invite advisers from Malaysia. Dakar, capital of Senegal, is the trade centre of West Africa with convenient communication and transport system, while Shanghai is an international metropolis and important financial and trade centre of Asia. If Senegal and the People’s Republic of China restore diplomatic relations, the prospect for development of the two countries will be very broad.

Adama Gaye visited the Shenzhen High-tech Industrial Park and Konka Group while in Shenzhen. He expressed his admiration for the city that has grown from a small fishing village into a modern city in 25 years and said, the Chinese are courageous, diligent, and law-abiding people with pioneering spirit, from whom the Senegalese people should learn. He said that he would set up a Senegal-People’s Republic of China Friendship Club in Senegal and draw people of various circles into the club where public lectures and exhibitions would be held and personnel exchanges conducted to promote Senegal-China friendship.

Adama Gaye’s visit to China was short, but it left a deep impression on him. He said, at present, Europe is facing many difficulties in its integration process while the United States suffering from economic slide after 9.11, but the Chinese economy maintains development momentum and has broad prospects. He believed that more and more Senegalese would come to visit China in the future and that he was only the first person to knock at the door to friendship.