Tunis, Jan. 14 (TAP) - President Kaïs Saied met on Tuesday afternoon at the Carthage Palace with Birame Diop, Chief of Defence Staff of the Senegalese Armed Forces, in his capacity as special envoy with a written message from President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to the Head of State.

The President of the Republic recalled the special historical fraternal relations between Tunisia and Senegal, particularly since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1961, according to a statement by the Presidency.

He praised the existing level of cooperation in various fields and looked forward to its further development in the future, thanks to the human potential and natural resources available in both countries. This "will contribute to further enhancing the level of cooperation between the two countries and to achieving the desired integration at bilateral level or within the African Union institutions, in particular the financial institutions, to promote development on the African continent," the statement said.

"Tunisia, which has always been proud of its African affiliation, believes that Africa is for Africans and that the time has come to adopt a new and innovative approach that promotes solidarity, cooperation and integration among the countries of the continent and helps to realise the aspirations of its peoples for further development, growth and prosperity," the Head of State stressed.

He underlined Tunisia's constant willingness to work with its African brothers and its openness to anything that would contribute to the development of existing cooperation mechanisms in order to achieve a better future for present and future generations.

"The African continent is teeming with all kinds of wealth and it is time for its peoples to be the first to benefit from it after centuries of wars, famine, displacement and human trafficking," the President was quoted as saying in the statement.

He stressed the need for the countries of the continent to overcome the pain of the past in order to build a new and better future for their peoples, by working hard to reduce the huge development disparities in the world, and by engaging in the struggle to build a new human order that is more just and equitable.

President Kais Saied also called for taking the initiative to change the reality of the African continent for the better, despite the magnitude of the common challenges faced by African countries in various fields, especially in basic sectors such as health, education and transport, as well as other challenges related to terrorism, irregular migration and climate change, so that Africans can live in their homes in stability and security, with all their rights respected.

Following the meeting, the Senegalese minister stressed the need to rely on the capabilities of the African continent in facing challenges and making the best use of available opportunities. This can be achieved through strong and effective African institutions capable of combating poverty, achieving sustainable development, and providing the best conditions to meet the basic needs of African nations.

He added that President Kais Saied highlighted, during the meeting, the strong ties between the two countries and expressed willingness to boost bilateral cooperation.

"The President confirmed that both countries face common challenges, mainly terrorism, irregular migration as well as the impacts of climate change. They should seize available opportunities in various fields, such as tourism, education, and health," the minister pointed out.