By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
232News
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The Chinese Ambassador in Sierra Leone H.E. Ambassador Wang Qing during the Face to Face with China Event held on the 14th March, 2024, in Freetown at the embassy said China-Sierra Leone practical cooperation has been further deepened.
Belowe is the full statement from Ambassador Wang Qing:
Dear friends from the media and friendship organizations,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to meet with you again on “Face to Face with China”. As you all know, a major event has recently occurred in China-Sierra Leone relations. President Julius Maada Bio paid a state visit to China after 6 years. This visit has written a new chapter in the history of friendly exchanges between China and Sierra Leone. First of all, I would like to thank everyone for your focus about this visit, and also thank you for your timely and comprehensive follow-up reports. Today, I would like to share with you the main details of President Bio’s visit to China and help you have a better understanding of its historic significance.
At the invitation of H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, paid a state visit to China from February 27 to March 2, 2024. During the visit, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Bio. H.E. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, and H.E. Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, held separate meetings with President Bio. The two presidents had an in-depth exchange of views on China-Sierra Leone relations, China-Africa relations and international and regional issues of shared interest, and reached extensive and important common understandings.
I would like to introduce the results of the talks between the two heads of state from three aspects.
First, China-Sierra Leone traditional friendship and political mutual trust have been further enhanced. There is an ancient Chinese poem that goes, “Distance cannot divide true friends who feel close even when thousands of miles apart.” Although China and Sierra Leone are separated by vast oceans, the two nations enjoyed a long history of friendship. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone 53 years ago, the two sides have supported each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, carried out efficient cooperation in the fields of economic and social development, coordinated closely on issues such as world peace and development, and worked together to fight against Ebola and the COVID-19 pandemic. China-Sierra Leone relations are a good example of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation. President Bio said China is a trustworthy and reliable friend. The two sides have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and have a profound traditional friendship.
Second, China-Sierra Leone practical cooperation has been further deepened. During the visit, President Xi Jinping and President Bio witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of the Belt and Road Initiative, agriculture, economic development, and the implementation of the Global Development Initiative as well as China-Sierra Leone joint statement on deepening comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, which draw a grand blueprint for China-Sierra Leone practical cooperation in the next stage. President Xi Jinping emphasized that China firmly supports the Sierra Leonean people in pursuing a development path suited to their national conditions. He said China stands ready to strengthen exchanges with Sierra Leone on national governance, and work with Sierra Leone to continue supporting each other’s major concerns and safeguarding their respective sovereignty, security and development interests. China is also willing to provide assistance and support to the best of its ability for Sierra Leone’s development in agriculture, infrastructure construction and human resources, and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Sierra Leone. President Bio said Sierra Leone is willing to strengthen cooperation with China on the Belt and Road Initiative, and tap the potential for cooperation on infrastructure, trade, education and public services.
Third, China-Sierra Leone regional and international cooperation have become closer. President Xi Jinping said that the people of China and Africa share a common destiny and China has always regarded solidarity and cooperation with African countries as an important cornerstone of its foreign policy. China will work with African countries to align its initiatives to support Africa’s industrialization, agricultural modernization and talent development with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the development strategies of African countries; to further integrate the development of China, Africa and the world to promote the upgrading of China-Africa cooperation and move the world towards a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress. China is ready to work with African friends, including Sierra Leone, to make this year’s session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) a success. President Bio totally agreed with it and said that Sierra Leone is willing to inject new impetus into the traditional friendship and promote the further development of Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two nations. Sierra Leone is also willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China in regional and international affairs to jointly promote world peace and development.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
Today I also would like to take this opportunity to introduce the highlights of the outcome documents of this visit. During this visit, China and Sierra Leone signed a total of eight (8) cooperation agreements, the most important of which is undoubtedly the joint statement between the two countries that I mentioned just now. This is the core outcome of the talks between the two heads of state and provides guidance for China and Sierra Leone in the political, economic, trade, industrial and agricultural fields in the next stage. These guidelines will surely play a leading role in the future development of China-Sierra Leone relations. Besides, the “Belt and Road” cooperation plan signed by the two countries is also one of the biggest highlights of this visit. This document points out that under the “Belt and Road” cooperation framework, China and Sierra Leone will work together to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, trade and investment, energy and resources, finance, science and technology, digital economy, green development, medical service and health, agriculture, forestry and water conservancy, education and training, cultural exchanges, rule of law and other fields. In addition, relevant departments of China and Sierra Leone also signed separate memorandums of cooperation in China’s assistance to Sierra Leone, media cooperation, agricultural cooperation and other aspects.
During his stay in China, President Bio also participated in a variety of visiting activities, including hosting the Sierra Leone Investment Forum, visiting China Kingho Group, China Railway Group, Chendge Jianlong Special Steel Co. Ltd, and going to Wuhan to visit the Institute of Food Crops of Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huawei Wuhan Research Center, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). This University awarded President Bio an honorary doctorate and signed a cooperation agreement with the Kono University of Science and Technology in Sierra Leone. Through his personal visit, President Bio gained a better understanding of China. In particular, he conducted on-the-spot inspections of the departments with the closest cooperation between China and Sierra Leone, and also explored the potential for cooperation in some other fields. President Bio particularly emphasized that China and Sierra Leone should continue to maintain close communication after returning to China and explore more cooperation possibilities in the future. As the visit to China draws to a close, President Bio also accepted an interview with the CGTN “Leaders Talk” column, which was broadcast on March 8. All media friends are welcome to forward it.
I have the honor to accompany President Bio on this visit to China. From my experience, this visit has been fruitful and gratifying. This visit has written an important chapter in the history of China-Sierra Leone friendship and unveiled a new era for the consolidation of bilateral relations and diversification of practical cooperation, which injected new momentum to the deepening of the China-Sierra Leone Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
I believe that under the common care and strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Sierra Leone friendly cooperation will gain more visible outcome. China is willing to join hands with Sierra Leone to cement the past achievements and forge ahead into the future, push China-Sierra Leone Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership to a new level, and bring better life and more benefits to the two peoples.
I thank you all!
