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By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
The Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone has on Eid Celebration (Pray Day), presented about 600 bags of rice, cooking oil and bags of sugar to the Ministry of Gender, at New England Ville in Freetown.
The presentation has been an annual ceremony by the Chinese Embassy through the Ministry, to support the Muslim Community during the holy month of Ramadan.
Welcoming the Chinese Ambassador and his team, the Minister of Gender, Baindu Dassama- Kamara started by thanking the delegation for such a support.
She said even though the gesture came at the end of Ramadan, it will go long way to support the Muslim community.
The Minister said China and Sierra Leone have been friends for ages now, with the hope of continuing such a vital relationship for the benefit of both countries.
During the handing-over ceremony, the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Wang Qing said “Today is the traditional Muslim festival of Eid-al-Fitr which means the end of Ramadan. For Muslims, Ramadan is the holiest and most auspicious month of the year. It is a time for discipline, both spiritual and physical, a time for reflection, and a time for sharing, blessing and being together with family and loved ones. Just like you, more than 23 million Muslim brothers and sisters in China are honoring the Ramadan traditions of fasting, praying and doing charities, carrying forward the spirit of unity and generosity. So first of all, I wish to convey the warm greetings and best wishes from 23 million Chinese Muslims to their Muslim brothers and sisters in SL.”
As usual, he said, as a friendly gesture to support their Muslim brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone, the Chinese Embassy donates some food to the Muslim community through the major Muslim and Islamic organizations. Here are the items:
30 tons of rice (600 bags, 50kg per bag),
600 litre cooking oil (30 cartons, 20 litres per carton),
1.5 tons of sugar (30bags, 50kg per bag),
“I wish this donation will help the religious organizations here in providing support to the less privileged persons and communities. Since over 70% of Sierra Leone’s population are Muslims, I also hope this can help to further strengthen the friendship between our two peoples and consolidate the foundation of the China-Sierra Leone relationship.”
According to the Ambassador, China and Sierra Leone are long-standing good friends.
“Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 52 years ago, China-Sierra Leone relations have been constantly enhanced on the basis of sincere friendship, equality, mutual trust, mutual support and mutual benefit.”
He said in recent years, under the strong leadership of H.E. President Xi Jinping and H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, cooperation between thetwo sides has yielded countless tangible results.
“As the new Chinese Ambassador, in the past three months I have visited many Chinese-aided projects. The National Stadium, Youyi Building, China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, Wilberforce Barracks and the Fixed Biosafety Laboratory have become landmark projects of China-Sierra Leone friendship,” he noted
Representing the Muslim Community, Secretary General of the Supreme Islamic Council, Sheik Ibrahim Barrie expressed his delight for such a support.
Barrie underscored that this is not the first time Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone is supporting the Muslim community.
“They did it during the Ebola, the corona and even last year Ramadan,” he emphasized.
He averred that the items will reach their intended beneficiaries, noting that, “we remained grateful to the government and people of China”.
