China, Sierra Leone Mark 77th Anniversary of PRC and 55 Years of Diplomatic Relations
By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, Sept. 17 (232nNews) — Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E. Zhao Yong, has said China is celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, as the two countries also commemorate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Speaking at a reception to mark the occasion on Wednesday 16th September at the Embassy, Ambassador Zhao expressed appreciation to friends and partners who had supported China’s development and actively promoted China-Sierra Leone relations. He also extended greetings to members of the Chinese community, enterprises and institutions operating in Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Zhao said that over the past 77 years, the Communist Party of China had united and led the Chinese people in achieving rapid economic growth and long-term social stability.
He said China had become the world’s second-largest economy, with its comprehensive national strength increasing substantially and the living standards of its people improving significantly.
He noted that 2026 marked the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and said that, despite a complex and volatile international environment, the Chinese economy had continued to demonstrate strong resilience.
According to Ambassador Zhao, China’s gross domestic product had reached US$3.75 trillion, representing a 16.9 per cent year-on-year increase.
He highlighted the growth of China’s exports of electric vehicles, lithium batteries and solar cells, which he said had increased by 45.8 per cent. He added that exports of robots, artificial intelligence products and innovative medicines were also rising rapidly.
Ambassador Zhao said China had become the largest holder of global artificial intelligence patents, accounting for 60 per cent of the global total.
He said China was steadily expanding high-standard opening up and would continue to share development opportunities with the rest of the world.
The Ambassador said China had signed Belt and Road Initiative cooperation documents with more than 150 countries, which he said had delivered tangible benefits to their populations.
He also stated that, from 1 May 2026, China had fully implemented zero tariffs on imports from 53 African countries with which it maintained diplomatic relations. He said the measure made China the first major economy to provide unilateral, full-coverage zero-tariff treatment for Africa.
Ambassador Zhao said China remained committed to peaceful development and advocated an equal and orderly multipolar world, as well as universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation.
He called on all countries to practise true multilateralism and referenced the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping between 2021 and 2025.
He said the initiatives promoted the idea of countries working together to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and expressed appreciation for Sierra Leone’s support for them.
China-Sierra Leone Relations
Turning to bilateral relations, Ambassador Zhao said 2026 marked the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone.
He said that over the past 55 years, the two countries had supported and respected each other, particularly expressing appreciation for Sierra Leone’s consistent support for the one-China principle.
He said mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in politics, economy and trade, health, education and culture had produced fruitful results.
According to Ambassador Zhao, China-Sierra Leone relations represented a good example of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation.
He said political trust between the two countries had continued to deepen, with both sides committed to promoting bilateral relations and consolidating their traditional friendship.
On economic cooperation, Ambassador Zhao said China had been Sierra Leone’s largest trading partner and a major source of foreign investment for more than a decade.
He said that, supported by China’s zero-tariff policy, bilateral trade between China and Sierra Leone reached approximately US$1.466 billion in the first half of 2026, representing an increase of about 38 per cent year on year.
He also highlighted the contribution of Chinese medical teams to Sierra Leone, noting that over the past five decades, the teams had provided more than one million medical services to Sierra Leoneans.
Ambassador Zhao said people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Sierra Leone had become increasingly active.
He disclosed that 130 Sierra Leonean students had obtained Chinese Government scholarships in 2026, while more than 530 people from various sectors in Sierra Leone had travelled to China for short-term training.
He said the previous year had recorded the highest number of Sierra Leonean visitors to China and expressed confidence that 2026 would set a new record.
Describing China and Sierra Leone as good friends that trusted each other and good partners moving forward together, Ambassador Zhao said China was ready to work with Sierra Leone to continue implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and to fully utilise the benefits of the zero-tariff policy.
He said China would continue injecting new momentum into the China-Sierra Leone Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to bring greater benefits to the peoples of both countries and contribute to building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Ambassador Zhao concluded by proposing a toast to the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the prosperity of China and Sierra Leone, the lasting friendship between the two countries, and the health of all those present and their families.
Sierra Leone Reaffirms Commitment to Partnership
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Madam Jeneba J. Bangura, congratulated the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China on the 77th anniversary of its founding and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sierra Leone and China.
She said Sierra Leone joined the Chinese people in commemorating the significant milestones and celebrating the remarkable journey China had undertaken over the past decades.
Madam Bangura said China’s transformation had been one of the most consequential economic and social developments of the modern era.
She noted that China’s achievements in poverty reduction and its emergence as a major centre for global manufacturing, trade, infrastructure, technology and innovation had had profound implications not only for its own people but also for developing countries around the world.
She said Sierra Leone acknowledged China’s economic strides and its continued contribution to global economic growth.
She highlighted China’s investments in infrastructure, science and technology, manufacturing, digital connectivity, renewable energy, agriculture and human capital as evidence of the importance of long-term development planning, investment in people and sustained modernisation.
The Acting Minister said China’s development experience provided important opportunities for Sierra Leone and other developing countries for dialogue, cooperation and knowledge sharing.
She noted that China’s growing engagement with the developing world was also reflected in the Belt and Road Initiative, which had developed into an important framework for infrastructure connectivity, trade, investment and economic cooperation.
Madam Bangura said Sierra Leone had welcomed the opportunity to deepen cooperation with China under the Belt and Road framework.
She recalled that during President Julius Maada Bio’s State Visit to China in 2024, the two countries witnessed the signing of cooperation documents covering the Belt and Road Initiative, economic development and the Global Development Initiative.
She stressed that connectivity was not merely about roads, ports, bridges and physical infrastructure, but also about connecting people to markets, knowledge, technology, skills and opportunities.
She said Sierra Leone therefore looked forward to continued cooperation with China in areas that advanced the country’s national development priorities, particularly agriculture, food security, infrastructure, trade and investment.
55 Years of Diplomatic Relations
Madam Bangura said the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations carried special significance for Sierra Leone and China.
She recalled that the two countries established diplomatic relations on 29 July 1971 and said that, 55 years later, the relationship had developed into a comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership anchored on mutual respect, equality, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation.
She said the relationship had demonstrated resilience and continuity, with successive governments of Sierra Leone and China maintaining close political engagement, strengthening economic cooperation and supporting each other in international and multilateral affairs.
According to Madam Bangura, the elevation of the partnership in 2016 to a comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership reflected the depth and breadth of the enduring friendship between the two countries.
The Acting Minister said there was a substantial record of cooperation between Sierra Leone and China, noting that China had contributed to Sierra Leone’s development through support in infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, human resource development and other sectors.
She cited the National Stadium, the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Road and agricultural technical cooperation as examples of projects forming part of the long history of bilateral engagement.
Madam Bangura also recognised the contribution of Chinese enterprises and investors to Sierra Leone’s economy, particularly in mining, infrastructure and other productive sectors.
She said the Government of Sierra Leone welcomed responsible investment that created employment, developed local capacity, supported communities and contributed to national economic transformation.
She encouraged greater investment beyond extractive industries, particularly in agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, renewable energy technology, tourism and other sectors capable of generating employment and adding value to Sierra Leone’s resources.
Education, Health and People-to-People Exchanges
The Acting Minister emphasised that cooperation between Sierra Leone and China was not confined to governments and institutions, but also involved the peoples of both countries.
She noted that for decades, Sierra Leonean students had benefited from scholarships and training opportunities in China.
She said educational cooperation had continued to expand through scholarships, professional training, capacity building and academic exchanges.
According to Madam Bangura, the programmes had produced generations of Sierra Leoneans with knowledge, professional expertise and personal connections to China, describing them as an important human bridge between the two countries.
She added that cultural exchanges, medical cooperation, academic engagements and people-to-people contacts had also helped deepen mutual understanding between the peoples of Sierra Leone and China.
The Acting Minister further noted that China had maintained a longstanding medical cooperation programme with Sierra Leone.
Cooperation at the Multilateral Level
On multilateral cooperation, Madam Bangura said the bilateral relationship had also acquired significance within the United Nations and the broader multilateral system.
She said Sierra Leone took note of China’s vision of an equal and orderly multipolar world, greater representation for developing countries and a more inclusive international economic and political system.
She said Sierra Leone shared the broader objective of strengthening multilateralism, respecting sovereignty and upholding the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, while ensuring that developing countries had a meaningful voice in institutions that shaped the international order.
Madam Bangura said Sierra Leone and China had worked closely on issues of international peace and security, sustainable development and the interests of developing countries.
She said this cooperation was particularly visible during Sierra Leone’s tenure as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 term.
She expressed appreciation for China’s support to Sierra Leone during its tenure on the Security Council, including during Sierra Leone’s presidency of the Council in August 2024 and November 2025.
The Acting Minister said Sierra Leone looked forward to continuing coordination with China at the United Nations and other multilateral platforms, particularly on issues affecting Africa and the developing world.
She identified peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, reform of global governance institutions, and strengthening Africa’s voice and representation in international decision-making as areas of continued cooperation.
Looking Ahead
Looking towards the future, Madam Bangura said the next chapter of the Sierra Leone-China partnership should be defined by greater economic opportunities, deeper investment, stronger trade, expanded educational exchanges, technological cooperation and closer people-to-people relations.
She reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to working with China to translate political understanding into practical outcomes that would improve the lives of citizens.
She said the two countries had demonstrated that geographical distance need not be a barrier to friendship, cooperation and solidarity, adding that mutual respect, sovereign equality, trust and a shared commitment to development had sustained the relationship for 55 years.
Madam Bangura concluded by congratulating the Government and people of China on the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China.
She wished the People’s Republic of China continued peace, prosperity and development and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening the Sierra Leone-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and building an even stronger bridge between the peoples of the two countries.
She expressed the hope that the friendship between Sierra Leone and China would continue to grow from strength to strength before inviting guests to raise a toast to the President and people of the People’s Republic of China.
