The Chinese Embassy in collaboration with the Sierra Leone government has on Thursday 29th July 2021, hosted a virtual reception in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of China – Sierra Leone Diplomatic relations.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Professor David Francis congratulates the two countries for maintaining its bilateral relationship for fifty years now, he adds that china has been a true friend to Sierra Leone and has been answering to every called from the people of Sierra Leone. He further said that China’s Sierra Leone relationship started long ago, adding that both countries have maintain their diplomatic ties. He ended by conveying His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s greetings to the Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Hu Zhangliang expressed great joy and excitement in appreciation of both countries for maintaining their diplomatic ties.He disclosed that both H.E. Xi Jinping and H.E. President Julius Maada Bio have exchanged messages of congratulations on this important occasion.
In his message to the people of Sierra Leone, President Xi said that “despite changes in the international landscape, the two countries have always rendered support to each other. China’s Cooperation in the economic field, he said that is based on supporting the people of Sierra Leone and promoting their wellbeing. The stern challenges posed by COVID-19, President Xi said that 50 years now China and Sierra Leone have been supporting each other and assisting each other. He went on to say that the bond that is existing between the two countries have helped to maintain their brotherly relations. He lauded that has seen both countries through thick and thin.President Xi also said that he has placed great importance on China’s relations with Sierra Leone and he is looking forward to working with President Bio to cement their friendship, mutual trust,deepen practical cooperation and promote further growth of the China-Sierra Leone comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership for the benefit of both countries.
Ambassador Hu also highlighted that 50 years ago, their great leaders and forefathers late Chairman Mao Zedong and late President Siaka Stevens made historical decision by establishing diplomatic ties between China and Sierra Leone. Over the past 50 years, through joint efforts of the two governments, 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,” he disclosed, adding that the past 50 years witnessed the expansion of their trade and economic cooperation. He added that their bilateral trade volume have reached 530 million USD in 2020. The accumulated direct investment from China to Sierra Leone, he said havereached 3 billion USD in 2020. Since 1973, he said the Chinese government has dispatched more than 500 Chinese medical staff to Sierra Leone under the health assistance program. He continued to say that since1976, China has provided government scholarships to over 1000 Sierra Leonean students for them to study in China. Since 1991, he further disclosed thatChina has dispatched about 100 agricultural experts to Sierra Leone to provide technical training. He lauded that the past 50 years witnessed the development of their relations into a strategic level.
“There have been close exchanges of high level visits between our two countries and frequent cultural exchanges between the two peoples. Our two sides have not only deepened bilateral cooperation but also cooperated in appropriately addressing international and regional issues,” he said, adding that they 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.
