China and Senegal: sweethearts hook up

They've known each other for about three years. "Mais c’est le grand amour" between China and Senegal. Thus on Saint Valentine's Day it is appropriate that the president of the Republic of China, Hu Jintao, rendezvoused with Abdoulaye Wade, the president of Senegal. According to the L'Observateur the visit marked the growing relationship between the two since Senegal recognized communist China only three years ago. China suspended diplomatic relations with Senegal in 1996 when Senegal had the audacity to formally recognize the democratic Chinese government of Taiwan. Then in 2005, under Wade, Senegal switched to recognizing the communist regime over the democratic, furthering the communists' efforts to freeze the democratic Chinese out of international, and United Nations, recognition... Now the relationship has flowered into "a great love" according to the news reports of Hu's Valentine's Day visit to Dakar... That great love was testified according to sources from both countries by the extensive couplings expected in areas such as the development of Senegal's airlines and other transportation systems, as well as exploitation of hard-to-develop oil reserves in Casamance... The Chinese are already involved in major infrastructure projects in Senegal, particularly in Touba, as we have posted here often. The oil exploitation move is interesting, but not surprising considering China's clear program of developing its own oil sources... Will this "great love" last? One wonders, considering the cultural differences of the pair, especially the religious. Senegal is a land of great faith and the Muslim morality of its people is one of its greatest strengths. China is atheist. One wonders if the relationship is really just one of convenience, or even meretricious...