By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
FREETOWN, Sep. 28 (232News) –The Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone on the September 24th, 2021, hosted the first online Information Salon, which is initiated to strengthen communications and promote understanding between the two peoples of China and Sierra Leone.
In attendance were His Excellency, the Chinese Ambassador, Hu Zhangliang and Diplomats of the Embassy, the Hon. Deputy Minister of Information and Communications. Solomon Jamiru, the Political Adviser to President Bio, Dr. Brima Kapuwa, President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, editors, Station Managers and journalists from various media institutions as well as representatives from the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Organizations.
Ambassador Hu began by stating that the Salon is set to serve as a platform that would close the information gap, provide real information and enable the media friends to have a regular catch-up on the latest important developments of China and China-Sierra Leone cooperation.
Hon. Jamiru and Dr. Kapuwa highly talked about the importance of the Sierra Leone-China friendship and expressed the Sierra Leonean Government’s commitment to further deepen the bilateral relationship with China.
Spokesperson of the Embassy, Hu Aimin briefed on China’s development at the salon, and the Embassy diplomats answered questions related to training, scholarships program, visa and China-Sierra Leone cooperation. Participants of the salon kindly shared their thoughts on China-Sierra Leone relations.
Information Salone is for the interaction of Sierra Leone and China Ambassador the online information Salone organimsed by the Chinese embassy in Freetown deputy minister of Information happy and privileged to be part of the information Salone.
Below is the welcome remark of His Excellency, the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Hu Zhangliang:
Thank you all for taking your precious time to attend the online information salon organized by the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone. It’s my big pleasure to see you. I wish to express my sincere thanks to Hon. Deputy Minister Jamiru and H.E. Dr. Kapuwa for honoring the embassy’s invitation and agreeing to make a few remarks later on.
This year is of special significance to China and Sierra Leone. It marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the 60th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone, and the 50th anniversary of restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations. Earlier this year, we celebrated some of the major historic events. A week later, China will celebrate its 72nd anniversary of the founding of the PRC.
Over the past several decades, China and Sierra Leone have gone through thick and thin in their respective development courses. Our two countries have achieved a lot of hard-won successes in our march forward. China has grown into the second largest economy, the largest industrial manufacturer and the largest trader of goods in the world from an impoverished status. China is now more than ever close to realizing the great national rejuvenation.
As HE President Xi Jinping pointed out in his statement at the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, China is always a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods. China always advocates peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity. China is committed to the promotion of common development, win-win cooperation and true multilateralism. China will continue to work with the international society in building a community with a shared future for mankind.
China-Sierra Leone friendship has been time-honored and rich in contents. Our two countries have always treated each other with sincerity, good faith, mutual respect and mutual benefit. We have become strategic partners and genuine friends. Such a constructive and healthy relationship is an invaluable asset for both sides. It is the commendable efforts of our two countries and peoples that raised our bilateral ties to the current high level. I should take this opportunity to thank you all for your important contributions to the enhancement of our relations.
Although there are so many touching stories about ourselves and inspiring experiences that can be shared between our two sides or be told to the other parts of the world, due to inadequate communication and the invasion of false information from other circles, the mutual understanding between our two peoples is still not matchable to our close cooperation.
There is a need for further strengthening our communications. The information salon is created to serve this purpose. The Chinese Embassy wishes that through this salon the diplomats of the embassy and media friends can at least have a regular catch-up on the latest important developments of our two countries every two month. Of course, if there is the need, other forms of communications can take place any time. I hope that, in order to provide our two peoples the real information, our two sides will have our own way of telling stories, speaking out truth and forming narratives rather than being overwhelmed by certain western media or propaganda.
I’m convinced that all our friends will actively support this endeavor and make it meaningful. I thank you for your attention and look forward to listening your insightful comments.
