By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, July 31 (232News) – It was on Thursday the 29th July 2021 at a wonderful celebration of 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Sierra Leone, when the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Sierra Leone H.E. Hu Zhangliang outlined the successes both countries have enjoyed since 1971 to date.
The celebration which took the formed of online reception, was officially opened by Sierra Leone Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prof. David Francis in the presence of Sierra Leone Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Abass Bundu, the Chief Justice, Desmond Babatunde Edwards, Inspector General of Police, Governments Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Anti-Corruption Commission Boss France Ben Kefala, Political Parties leaders, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, Chinese compatriots participated, China Friendship Associations and the Media.
In his remarks, Chinese Ambassador Hu said the 50-year extraordinary journey of China-Sierra Leone relations would not have been so smooth and fruitful had it not been for the care from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the major political parties of Sierra Leone.
This year also marks the 100thanniversary of the founding of the CPC. Under the strong leadership of the CPC, China has successfully achieved its first centenary goal, attained a complete victory in the fight against object poverty and succeeded in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
China is now marching toward the second centenary goal of realizing the Chinese Dream of great national rejuvenation.
“Under the leadership of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, the Sierra Leonean government and people are earnestly implementing the New Direction Agenda and the Mid-term National Development Plan for the transformation of Sierra Leone into a more beautiful and prosperous country.”
He spoke about the exchanged of congratulatory messages by President Xi Jinping and President Julius Maada Bio and the two foreign ministers did the same.
“In the message, President Xi said that” despite changes in the international landscape, our two countries have always rendered each other understanding and support on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns. Our cooperation in the economic field and that related to people’s well-being has yielded fruitful results. In the face of the stern challenges posed by COVID-19, our peoples have stood with each other and assisted each other in pandemic response, demonstrating our brotherly bond, one that has seen us through thick and thin.”
President Xi also said that he placed great importance on China’s relations with Sierra Leone and looked forward to working with President Bio to cement the friendship and mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, and promote further growth of the China-Sierra Leone comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership for the benefit of our two countries and peoples.
Ambassador Hu recalled that 50 years ago, their great leaders and forefathers late Chairman Mao Zedong and late President Siaka Stevens made the historical decision to establish diplomatic ties between China and Sierra Leone.
Over the past 50 years, through joint efforts of the two governments and two peoples, China-Sierra Leone friendly relations have grown rapidly and yielded notable results to the satisfaction and pride of both sides.
“The past 50 years witnessed the come-into-being of the Youyi Building, the National Stadium, the Mange Bridge, the Magbass Sugar complex, the RSLAF headquarters in the 1970s and 80s, the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Road, the Bo Stadium, the Jui Hospital, the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Middle School and Primary Schools, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office Building since 2000, and the second Juba Bridge, the Limkokwing-Regent Road, the Myohaung Officers’ Mess and Single Officers’ Quarters, the National Optical Fiber Backbone Network Phase Two and the newly started Foreign Service Academy etc. since 2018.”
He continued “The past 50 years witnessed the expansion of our trade and economic cooperation. Our bilateral trade volume reached 530 million USD last year. The accumulated direct investment from China to Sierra Leone reached 3 billion USD in 2020. Since 1973, the Chinese government has dispatched more than 500 Chinese medical staff to Sierra Leone under the health assistance program. Since1976, China has provided government scholarships to over 1000 Sierra Leonean students for them to study in China. Since 1991, China has dispatched about 100 agricultural experts to Sierra Leone to provide technical training.”
He added that “The past 50 years witnessed the development of our relations into a strategic level. There have been close exchanges of high level visits between our two countries and frequent cultural exchanges between our two peoples. Our two sides have not only deepened bilateral cooperation but also cooperated in appropriately addressing international and regional issues. We have supported each other not only in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity but also in promoting world peace, common development and international justice. 50 years down the path, China-Sierra Leone friendship is full of vitality, presenting a flourishing and thriving scene.”
He emphasized that the remarkable achievements of China-Sierra Leone relations over the past 50 years are the natural result of mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual support and mutual benefit between our two sides.
“In the past 50 years, China and Sierra Leone have always respected each other in choosing a development path that suits its own national conditions, never interfered into each other’s internal affairs and never imposed one’s will onto the other. China has never attached any political strings to its aid to Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone has firmly adhered to the one-China principle.”
He further stated that in the past 50 years, China and Sierra Leone have always treated each other equally and sincerely.
“We have never done anything to harm or disappoint each other. As H.E. President Xi Jinping said, “China and Sierra Leone have always been good friends who stand together through thick and thin, and share weal and woe.” H.E. President Bio also said many times that Sierra Leone and China are reliable friends.”
He went further to say in the past 50 years, no matter how the international landscape or the domestic situations of our two countries evolve, China and Sierra Leone have always supported each other.
“China has actively helped Sierra Leone in promoting social economic progress and restoring peace and stability. Sierra Leone has supported the restoration of the legitimate seat of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations among other things. In the fight against Ebola, China was the first to assist Sierra Leone and now we are in solidarity against the COVID-19 pandemic. In conducting cooperation with Sierra Leone, China always follows the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith as well as the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests.”
The history of China-Sierra Leone relations over the past 50 years Ambassador Hu added demonstrates that China-Sierra Leone friendship is a valuable asset for both sides, both sides should always exert efforts to nurture and cultivate our cordial relations and the prospect of our relations is broad and bright because this relationship is based on equality, mutual trust, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
“Standing on the new starting point, the Chinese side will follow the important consensus reached by H.E. President Xi Jinping and H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, and continue to work hand in hand with the Sierra Leonean side for the common development of our two countries, for the promotion of true multilateralism and for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Together, we will embrace a better future.”
Ambassador Hu used the opportunity to express sincere gratitude and appreciation to all those in the two countries and other friends who have made important contributions to the development of China-Sierra Leone friendship, while wishing and thanking all the political parties, the successive governments and parliaments, the various social organizations and friends from all walks of life in Sierra Leone for their precious support to the development of China-Sierra Leone relations.
Ambassador Hu Zhangliang concluded by proposed a toast to the good health of President Xi Jinping and President Julius Maada Bio, to the prosperity of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Sierra Leone and the longevity of China-Sierra Leone friendship.
Responses from Sierra Leone Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Prof. David Francis among other ministers, the First Lady Fatima Bio, Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice, Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Mayor of Freetown among others described the relationship as one that was built on trust and love for one another as both countries are one family.
The online reception climaxed with cultural show that was produced by both countries.
