The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sierra Leone has hosted the embassy’s second media engagement with dubbed “Face to Face with China” at China Sierra Leone Friendship House, Brookfield in Freetown.
Speaking to journalists on range of issues, His Excellency Ambassador Wang Qing shared with the audience some of the major events in China since the beginning of this year (2023): the two sessions that were held in March, adjustment the policies on the prevention and control of the epidemic, the recent actions of China’s diplomacy.
Ambassador Wang said China and Sierra Leone are good friends, good brothers, and good partners. After 52 years of development since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Sierra Leone relations have reached a historical high point and become a model of China-Africa relations and South-South cooperation.
Friendship between nations lies in the closeness of people. The healthy development of China-Sierra Leone relations cannot be achieved without the support of the people of both countries. Ambassador Wang therefore also, mentioned the roles played by the various China friendship Organizations to cement the relationship between China and Sierra Leone.
The Minister Trade and Industry, Dr Edward Hinga Sandy thanked the Chinese Embassy for organizing a platform, where important issues relating to China and Sierra Leone are discussed. He observed that such platform shows how both countries valued the relationship.
He furthered that China is one of Sierra Leone biggest partners in trade, and China has influenced every aspect of national development, especially around trade, agriculture, mining, education. He applauded Ambassador Wang and the entire Chinese Embassy for introducing the face-to-face platform. Dr Sandy said the platform is not only centred around people-to-people diplomacy but has also helped wipe out the stereotype of the local people about China.
For their part, representatives from four Friendship Organizations, Sierra Leone-China Friendship Society, Sierra Leone-China friendship Association, Sierra Leone-China Alumni Association, Sierra Leone-China Foundation also shared their views of China and China-Sierra Leone relations, and profusely thanked the Chinese Embassy for organizing such a wonderful event. The traditional friendship between the two countries is a treasure and needs to be nurtured and protected. In the future, they will make more contributions to promoting these bilateral relations.
The event ended with an interactive session where journalists and other participants asked questions relating to China and China-Sierra Leone friendship, such as China’s economic and business, the Global Civilization Initiative, the Visa policy.
