A senior government official from the Ministry Trade and Industry has said that the Belt and Road Initiative has made Beijing the biggest financier of infrastructure projects in Africa.

Mr Konjoh made this statement at the 4 Face to Face with China programme organized by the Chinese Embassy on 17 October, 2023.

He explained that the Belt and Road Initiative announced by President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China in 2013, seeks to further expand solidify and create equal trade opportunities with a win-win results for all.

He noted that Sierra Leone have witnessed notable results of cooperation between China and Sierra Leone, including: the construction of the Youyi Building, the National Stadium, Mange Bridge, the Magbass Sugar Complex, Ernest Bai Koroma Highway, the Bo Municipal Stadium, Dodo Electricity hydro, among other infrastructure projects in the country.

In one of the bilateral trade volume, Mr. Konjoh revealed that the trade volume has now reached over Five Hundred Million United States Dollars, and that direct investments from China to Sierra Leone have reached Four Billion United States Dollars.

He said that since 1973, the Chinese government has dispatched more than 500 Chinese medical personnel to Sierra Leone under the health assistance program, and from 1976, China has provided government scholarships for over 1000 Sierra Leonean students to study in China.

“Todays’ session serve as veritable platform for engagement in the ‘Silk Road Spirit’ an initiative that is based on the principle of achieving shared growth through dialogue and collaboration that prevailed on the ancient historical trade route, peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and benefits,” he observed.