Remarks by the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone On the Two Sessions of China

赵勇大使在两会精神宣介会上的讲话

（2026年3月19日10:00，中国之家）

Esteemed Director General Kapuwa,

Esteemed DDG Wurie,

Distinguished Friends from China-Sierra Leone Friendship Organizations, Media, and Think Tanks,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning!

The annual Two Sessions of China, including the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, have just concluded in Beijing. In a changing and volatile world, with China’s accelerating efforts to build a modernized country, the international community is paying closer attention to China’s domestic and foreign policies. The Two Sessions have always been as a window for the world to observe China’s development trajectory. We hold this symposium today in order to help our Sierra Leonean friends better understand China and its policy concepts as well as development goals. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you a few interpretations on this year’s Two Sessions.

My first interpretation is that China remains the most stable engine for global economic growth.​ Over the past five years, China’s economy has grown at an average annual rate of 5.4%, contributing about 30% to global growth, which is more than the combined contribution of the G7. In 2025, China’s GDP exceeded 20 trillion US dollars. Behind this massive scale are the vibrant dynamics of China’s renewing and improving development. In China, every second, over 143 million gigabytes of data are transmitted via the cloud; every minute, 30 new energy vehicles roll off production lines; every day, 24,000 new enterprises are registered. China has achieved fruitful outcomes in scientific and technological innovation and has continuously optimized its industrial structure. China’s R&D and application in AI, biomedicine, robotics, and quantum technology are at the global forefront. China holds 60% of the world’s AI patents. Industrial internet applications cover all major industrial categories. In the meantime, China stays firmly committed to the philosophy of “development for the people”. Every year, additional 12 million people are employed in urban areas. Average life expectancy has risen to 79.25 years. Forest coverage rate has increased to over 25%, making China the country with the fastest and largest growth in forest resources. Amid global turbulence, China has consistently maintained strategic focus and development resilience. The fundamental trend and supporting conditions for China’s long-term development remain unchanged.

My second interpretation is that the 15th Five-Year Plan will put China on a new journey of Chinese modernization.​ Every five years, China makes a Five-Year Plan as the blueprint for national development. This year’s Two Sessions reviewed and adopted the 15th Five-Year Plan, whose core is to comprehensively advance Chinese modernization. Up till now, fewer than 30 countries have achieved modernization. Their combined population is less than 1 billion, far less than China’s 1.4 billion population. There is no precedent for realizing modernization for such a massive population. The challenges cannot be underestimated. In order to address challenges such as growth drivers transformation and resource constraints, this year’s Two Sessions and its adopted 15th Five-Year Plan have introduced important policies to boost consumption growth, upgrade key industries, foster and expand emerging industries and future industries. These policies will inject continuous impetus into Chinese modernization. Furthermore, China will further expand high-standard opening up. With a focus on the service sector, China will actively pursue self-driven opening up. China will stabilize the scale and optimize the structure of foreign trade, expand two-way investment cooperation, and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. China will fulfill its role not only as the “world’s factory” but also as the “world’s market”. The Two Sessions set a GDP growth target of 4.5% to 5% for the year 2026. China’s factories and market will continue to contribute to strong and sustainable global economic growth.

My third interpretation is that China’s diplomacy firmly stands on the right side of the history.​ In today’s world, changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace, transformation and turbulence are intertwined, and wars and conflicts keep flaring up. Last year, at the Reception Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, President Xi Jinping announced the strongest message of promoting the common values of humanity and upholding international fairness and justice. Recently, as tensions escalated in the Middle East, China has engaged in continuous diplomatic mediation, striving to promote peace, cease hostilities, and ease the situation. China remains the most important force for peace, stability, and justice in the world. Our steps for peace will not halt. Our voice for justice will not fall silent. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between China and African countries and the “China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges”. President Xi Jinping deeply values the bond with Africa. He proposed the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, which have guided China-Africa cooperation to new heights. For 36 consecutive years, China’s foreign minister has kicked off the year with a visit to Africa, reflecting China’s firm support for Africa’s development. This year, China will host nearly 600 splendid people-to-people exchange events. Starting 1st of May, zero-tariff access for 100 percent of African imports will be fully implemented. Together, China and Africa will write a new chapter for the All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era.

Ladies and gentlemen,

China and Sierra Leone are good friends and good partners. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, the friendship between China and Sierra Leone has withstood the test of changing international circumstances and demonstrated strong vitality. This year marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of our Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership. China is willing to work with Sierra Leone to enhance political mutual trust, strengthen international coordination, promote closer people-to-people exchanges, and ensure that the fruits of our cooperation better benefit the peoples of both nations.

Thank you!