By Alusine Fullah

Ambassador Wang Qing has delivered a keynote speech about H.E President Bio visit to China. During this process, he exchanged vast ideas about the essence of this meeting between the heads of state. Ambassador, Wang Qing stated by expressing his profound gratitude to the two countries especially Sierra Leone for strongly upholding the good ties that has in existence for the past years. He said: “I want to use this opportunity to warmly send my gratitude to all the people of the two countries especially the people of Sierra Leone. For the past decades, the two countries especially Sierra Leone has been fully collaborating with China… Friendship is the main theme of this visit. There is an ancient Chinese poem that goes, “Distance cannot divide true friends who feel close even when thousands of miles apart.”

H.E. Julius Maada Bio, paid a state visit to China from February 27 to March 2, 2024. It has been 6 years since the head of Sierra Leone visited China last time. The two presidents had an in-depth exchange of views on China-Sierra Leone relations, China-Africa relations and international and regional issues of shared interest, which reached extensive and important common understandings.According to the Ambassador, this visit has written an important chapter in the history of China-Sierra Leone friendship and unveiled a new era for the consolidation of bilateral relations and diversification of practical cooperation, which injected new momentum to the deepening of the China-Sierra Leone Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

Friendship is the main theme of this visit. There is an ancient Chinese poem that goes, “Distance cannot divide true friends who feel close even when thousands of miles apart.” Although China and Sierra Leone are separated by vast oceans, the two nations enjoyed a long history of friendship. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone 53 years ago, the two sides have supported each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, carried out efficient cooperation in the fields of economic and social development, coordinated closely on issues such as world peace and development, and worked together to fight against Ebola and the COVID-19 pandemic. China-Sierra Leone relations are a good example of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation. President Bio said China is a trustworthy and reliable friend. The two sides have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and have a profound traditional friendship.

Wang Qing noted that during this visit, H.E Bio signed to eight developmental agreements with the President of China. He said: In China, President Bio signed into eight developmental agreements. Also, in China, President Bio hosted the Sierra Leone Investment Forum and visited China Kingho Group, China Railway Group Ltd., Chendge Jianlong Special Steel Co. Ltd. He also visited Institute of Food Crops of Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huawei Wuhan Research Centre and China University of Geosciences, where the President accepted Honorary Doctorate Degree, in Wuhan of Hubei Province, Central China. The two sides also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between China University of Geosciences and Kono University of Science and Technology…”

Win-win is the keyword of this visit. Ambassador Wang Qing further noted that the people of China and Africa share a common destiny and China has always regarded solidarity and cooperation with African countries as an important cornerstone of its foreign policy. He said: “China will work with Sierra Leone to align its initiatives to support Africa’s industrialization, agricultural modernization and talent development with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the development strategies of African countries; to further integrate the development of China, Africa and the world to promote the upgrading of China-Africa cooperation and move the world towards a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress…”

After 53 years down the line of development, China-Sierra Leone friendship has grown from small gravel to huge mountains, from trickles to rivers and seas, and has become a good example of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation.