16th May, 2024
Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, Deputy Speaker of Parliament,
Hon. Unpha Koroma, Member of Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament,
Mr. Alan Logan, Acting Director General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,
Dear friends from friendly organizations, think tank and media,
Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning!
It’s my great pleasure to meet you all at the Embassy. It’s a good opportunity to refresh our friendship and exchange views on issues of common interest. First of all, I would like to thank all of you for your continued efforts in promoting China-Sierra Leone friendship and thank you for supporting today’s event.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 53 years ago, China-Sierra Leone relations have been constantly enhanced on the basis of sincere friendship, equality, mutual trust, mutual support and mutual benefit. Now we are very happy to see that our bilateral relations have been highly robust with solid political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in various fields. During the state visit by HE President Julius Maada Bio in February, our two leaders spoke highly of this relationship. President Xi Jinping said that China-Sierra Leone relations are a good example of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation. President Bio said China is a trustworthy and reliable friend. And the two sides agreed that such a relationship has greatly benefited both countries and peoples, and set a fine example of a new type of international relations.
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. Now the most important task for us is to seize the opportunity and take advantage of the good momentum, push our comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level. I will share some of my views in the following four aspects and also want to hear from you.
Firstly, how to increase the strategic significance of our bilateral relations and make greater contributions for a more just and equitable international order. The world today is far from tranquil, the governance and trust deficit in the international community is decidedly widening, and hegemonic and bullying acts are inflicting profound harm, unilateralism is reasserting itself. China, as the biggest developing country and the permanent member of UNSC, Sierra Leone, as the non-permanent member of UNSC who will take presidency in August, and Chair of C10, we share extensive common interests and similar positions on international affairs, and can support each other in forging an more effective international governance in line with the developing countries’ interests. We should uphold the principle of equality among all countries regardless of size, oppose hegemonism and power politics, and work to build an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. We should safeguard the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, adhere to true multilateralism, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
For example, on Palestinian-Israeli conflicts, we think that restoring justice to the Palestinian people and fully implementing the two-State solution is the only way to break the vicious cycle and to realize enduring peace in the Middle East. We support Palestine’s full membership in the UN, and urge certain UN Security Council member to stop laying obstacles to that end. On UNSC reform, we support for the authority of the UN and agreed that reform of the UN Security Council needs to support developing countries including Africa in playing a bigger role, increase their representation and voice in the Security Council and redress the historical injustices done to Africa. We look forward to working closely with Sierra Leone on all these issues.
Secondly, how to uphold the original aspiration of establishing the diplomatic ties and provide unwavering support to each other on issues of core interests. Here I want to elaborate a little more on Taiwan issues. More than fifty years ago, at its 26th Session, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority, restoring the lawful seat of the PRC in the United Nations. Among the 76 votes in favor of the resolution, 26 were cast by African countries, while 11 of the 23 co-sponsors of the draft resolution were from Africa. We are grateful that Sierra Leone is one of the co-sponsors. The Chinese people will bear this in mind.
UN Resolution 2758, which undertook “to restore all its rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it”, settled once and for all the political, legal and procedural issues of China’s representation in the UN. It also spelled out that China has one single seat in the UN, so there is no such thing as “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”.
The specialized agencies of the UN later adopted further resolutions restoring to the PRC its lawful seat and expelling the representatives of the Taiwan authorities. One of these is Resolution 25.1 adopted at the 25th World Health Assembly in May 1972. It was clearly stated in the official legal opinions of the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN Secretariat that “the United Nations considers ‘Taiwan’ as a province of China with no separate status”, and the “‘authorities’ in ‘Taipei’ are not considered to… enjoy any form of government status”. At the UN the island is referred to as “Taiwan, Province of China”.
Now the international community overwhelmingly abides by Resolution 2758, and fully and faithfully implements the one-China principle. Resolution 2758 is a decision made by the UN General Assembly and must be observed by all member states. For the 183 countries which established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, they have all made political commitment to adhering to the one-China principle, and included this commitment in political documents such as communiqués and joint statements on the establishment of diplomatic relations with China. This shows that the one-China principle is a universally recognized principle and represents people’s sentiments and a global trend.
However, in recent years the Taiwan authorities, led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), have redoubled their efforts to divide the country, and some external forces have tried to exploit Taiwan to contain China, prevent the Chinese nation from achieving complete reunification, and halt the process of national rejuvenation. They even deliberately distorted and challenged the UNGA Resolution 2758. It has been trumpeting the notion that Taiwan’s status is undetermined, and advocating support for Taiwan’s participation in UN conferences and activities. All this is an attempt to invent a whole set of false narratives to mislead international public opinion and challenge the One-China consensus among the international community. But a lie, even told a thousand times, will not become truth.
Peaceful cross-Straits reunification is of benefit not only to the Chinese nation, but to all peoples and the international community as a whole. China and Sierra Leone are time-honored friends. We are grateful that Sierra Leone government always persists on One-China Principle and in all kinds of occasions has given us strong supports. In the joint statement released during the state visit by HE President Bio, “The Sierra Leonean side reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China principle, recognizing that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Sierra Leonean side firmly opposes any form of “Taiwan independence” or external interference in the internal affairs of China, reaffirms that it will not develop any form of official exchanges with Taiwan and will support all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification.” We appreciate it very much and thanks all sectors of the Sierra Leonean society for their understanding of China’s position.
Thirdly, how to synergize our development strategies, upgrade and diversify our practical cooperation. Through joint efforts during the last 5 decades since we established diplomatic ties, our practical cooperation is very fruitful and significantly benefit our two people. The National Stadium, Youyi Building, China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, Wilberforce Barracks and Foreign Service Academy have become landmark projects of China-Sierra Leone friendship. Now China is the biggest trade partner of Sierra Leone and the main source of foreign investment. Based on all of these achievements, we need to further promote our practical cooperation.
We know that in order to realize the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sierra Leone government put forward and is advancing the 5 Big Game Changers Agenda. In order to realize the common development of the international community, Chinese Government put forward some initiatives and strategies such as the Belt and Road, GDI. Last year President Xi proposed three new Initiatives on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization, Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization and China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development. We can synergize the developing strategies and complementarity of our two countries and better support each other’s development. After the state visit, I received a lot of China businessman and attended some events by Chinese companies such as Launching Ceremony of 12 MPTA Plant and Handing Over of CDA Payment by LRMG last week, Ceremony of Commissioning of the Community Market and Presentation of Donation towards the Community Development by CRSG the day before yesterday. All of them expressed interest in investing or expanding investment in Sierra Leone. We are confident that we can see more wonderful stories of China-Sierra Leone practical cooperation in the future.
Last but not the least, how to deepen our traditional friendship and consolidate the foundation of bilateral relations. Shared past experiences and similar aspirations have brought us close together. In the new century, our traditional friendship has deepened by fighting shoulder by shoulder against the Ebola and COVID-19. That’s why we call our friendship as an example of “a friend in need is a friend indeed”. That means, every time when one country meet difficult time, the other country will reach out and give a hand. we can count on each other’s help. Looking ahead, the bright future of our bilateral relations need joint efforts of people from all walks of life of our two countries. During the state visit, the two sides agreed to further leverage the guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy, and increase exchanges and cooperation at all levels and departments including central and local governments, legislative bodies and political parties. Today we have Hon. Mr. Deputy Speaker and other MPs here, we have Mr. Alan Logan as governmental representative here, we have representatives from the friendly organizations here, we have friends from the think tank and media here. The Embassy’s door is always open for our friends. Let’s work together to promote more trust and understanding between our countries, work together to promote more friendship and mutual helps between our people.
Thank you!
