Mrs. Francess Paigie Alghali, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, was in Changsha, Hunan Province, the People’s Republic of China, to represent Sierra Leone at the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Opening Ceremony of the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE).
The event marked the 25th Anniversary of FOCAC, underlining its crucial role in fostering cooperation and fortifying the bond between Africa and China.
At the meeting, His Excellency Wang Yi, a significant figure in the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a speech. He spoke about the progress made since the last FOCAC Summit in Beijing, referencing President Xi Jinping’s Ten Partnership Actions, and confirming the growth of strategic mutual trust. He also noted an increase in practical cooperation and closer multilateral collaboration between the two regions.
The Ministerial Meeting resulted in a Joint Declaration, the “China-Africa Changsha Declaration on Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South.” This declaration underscored a united front against unilateralism, protectionism, and economic hegemony. It also championed the rights and interests of all nations, while working to stabilize the global economic order.
The Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo put the Ten Partnership Actions in the spotlight. It showcased initiatives related to economic and trade objectives that were set during the 2024 Beijing Summit of FOCAC. The expo featured a variety of events that focused on vital areas such as infrastructure development, youth innovation and entrepreneurship, CEO dialogues, legal services, logistics, and new energy. These events were geared towards boosting modernization and enhancing trade cooperation between China and African countries.
During the Plenary Session, Deputy Minister Alghali gave a keynote address where she reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s strong commitment to multilateralism, economic cooperation, and regional security. She also highlighted a key achievement in the bilateral relations: Sierra Leone had signed a Fish Certification contract with China in the first quarter of this year. It was viewed as a critical step in Sierra Leone’s economic development, symbolizing the strengthening of ties between the two nations.
As the China-Africa partnership continues to evolve, events like the Ministerial Meeting and the Economic and Trade Expo serve to reinforce the commitment from both sides to deepen economic cooperation and encourage mutual development.
