Al Ahram interviews Senegalese President

Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade termed his talks with President Hosni Mubarak as extremely good, and would contribute in consolidating the bilateral relations on various spheres.

Prior to his departure from Cairo, President Wade accorded an exclusive interview to Al Ahram in which he pointed to the Egyptian-Senegalese cooperation to implement the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in the domains of infrastructure and agriculture.

Excerpts:

áMy talks with President Mubarak were extremely good and will consolidate the relations in all spheres.

áMy visit to Egypt was a good chance to strengthen the bilateral relations, especially the trade ones, given that the trade exchange between our two countries is too small.

áSenegal produces a lot of commodities which Egypt imports, and Egypt provides us with machines and apparatus.

I requested that Egypt would send experts in agriculture to assist Senegal in the production of maize and rice.

* There are five countries members of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), namely Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Nigeria and Algeria.

Egypt is concerned with the agriculture file, while Senegal is concerned with the infrastructure and technology.

* The NEPAD initiative is going on the right track, and we expect the aid of the big countries (the donors).

* We are doing our best for the success of the African Union, and I think that we can do it, even if there were some obstacles which we can surpass in order to realize the aims and objectives of the African Union, and therefore realize sustainable development, and put an end to poverty.