On September 21, 2023, the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone held a reception to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. More than 200 people attended the reception, including the Ambassador Wang Qing and his wife, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Madam Peagie Alghali and other government ministers, deputy ministers, the Chief Justice, senior generals of the army, heads of diplomatic missions in Sierra Leone, Chinese communities in Sierra Leone as well as friends from all walks of life.
In his speech, Ambassador Wang Qing reviewed the development achievements of the People’s Republic of China over the past 74 years since its founding, saying that over the past 74 years, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has led the Chinese people to successfully open up a path to Chinese modernization through a long-term exploration and independent practice. So far this year, in the face of the severe and complex world economic situation, China has made great efforts to promote high-quality development.
The Chinese economy enjoys strong resilience, ample potential and robust dynamism and the fundamentals sustaining China’s sound economic growth in the long run remains unchanged. China has the confidence, the conditions and the ability to meet the economic and social development targets set for 2023 with high quality and remain a source of strength for world economic recovery and growth.
Ambassador Wang pointed out that as the world’s largest developing country; China is committed to bringing more new opportunities to global development while achieving its own development.
Facing the profound changes unseen in a century, President Xi Jinping creatively proposed the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, providing Chinese solutions to increasingly severe and complex global challenges.
From proposing the Belt and Road Initiative to the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, China has always been a builder of world peace, a defender of international order, and a contributor to global development.
Next month, China will hold the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and will inject new impetus into strengthening global cooperation and common prosperity.
Ambassador Wang emphasized that Strengthening solidarity and cooperation with Sierra Leone and other African countries is always an important cornerstone of China’s foreign policies.
After H. E. President Julius Maada Bio was re-elected in June, H.E. President Xi Jinping, in his congratulatory message, reiterated that he stands ready to work with President Bio to support each other and work in solidarity and coordination to promote the continuous development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Sierra Leone to better benefit the people.
It has provided important guidance and new opportunities for China-Sierra Leone relations in the next stage.
During the BRICS Summit and China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue in South Africa last month, President Xi proposed three new Initiatives on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization, Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization and China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development.
It will inject new impetus for the common development of our two countries.
China looks forward to working with Sierra Leone to synergize development strategies and strengthen win-win cooperation.
On behalf of the Sierra Leonean government, Acting Foreign Minister Alghali delivered a speech and conveyed H. E. President Julius Maada Bio’s greetings to H. E. President Julius Maada Bio and all Chinese people. She spoke highly of China’s development achievements and cooperation between the two countries in various fields and thanked China for its long-term support in Sierra Leonean development issues. Minister Alghali said that Sierra Leone and China have deep friendship and close cooperation and the Sierra Leonean side is willing to work together with the Chinese side to continue to enhance the high level bilateral relations.
The reception had a warm atmosphere. The guests enjoyed the traditional Chinese and Sierra Leone cultural performances, praised China’s economic and social development achievements, and wished China-Sierra Leone friendship would last forever.
