Senegal gained independence in 1960 after formerly existing as a French colony , and in September of the same year , Léopold Sédar Senghor became Senegal 's first president . Soon after , Senegal established relations with Taipei , the capital city of Taiwan . In 1961 , Senegal recognized the People 's Republic of China ( PRC ) , but the PRC was unwilling to maintain this relationship while Senegal still retained ties with Taiwan . President Senghor stated in 1964 that he did not wish to maintain economic ties with Beijing , but oppositionist groups , including the Senegal African Independence Party , a communist party , were in support of retaining a relationship with Beijing at the time . In 1971 , Senegal voted in favor of the PRC joining the United Nations , a motion which passed . Two years later , in 1973 , the PRC and Senegal established trade and economic agreements . These relations lasted until 1996 , when Senegal resumed relations with Taipei and the PRC in turn suspended relations with Senegal . The PRC maintained this suspension until 2005 when the relationship was restored . In August 2016 , current Senegalese President Macky Sall attended the G20 summit in Hangzhou as the leader of a guest country , where he met with Xi Jinping and said he wanted to push for more independent development in Africa ( FOCAC )
G20 summit
2016 G20 Hangzhou summit
China–Senegal relations