By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Francess Paigie Alghali, has reaffirmed the country’s dedication to strengthening China-Africa cooperation through her active participation in two major international events held in Changsha, Hunan Province, in the People’s Republic of China.
Deputy Minister Alghali represented 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). These high-level engagements, held in June 2025, marked the 25th Anniversary of the FOCAC platform, which continues to play a pivotal role in promoting strategic collaboration and mutual development between China and African nations.
Her presence at the events served as a strong indication of Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment to fostering deeper diplomatic, economic, and trade relations not only with China but with the broader African continent under the FOCAC framework.
Strengthening Ties through FOCAC
The Ministerial Meeting brought together senior representatives from various African countries alongside top Chinese officials, including His Excellency Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In his keynote address, Wang Yi reflected on the progress made since the last FOCAC Summit held in Beijing and reiterated China’s dedication to a stronger and more comprehensive partnership with Africa. He highlighted the ongoing implementation of President Xi Jinping’s “Ten Partnership Actions”, announced at the 2024 FOCAC Summit. These actions aim to deepen cooperation in vital sectors such as infrastructure development, trade, technology transfer, energy, and regional security.
Wang noted that over the past year, mutual trust between China and African nations has grown, practical cooperation has widened, and multilateral collaboration has become more effective in addressing shared global challenges.
A key outcome of the meeting was the adoption of the “China-Africa Changsha Declaration on Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South.” This joint declaration denounced unilateralism, protectionism, and economic hegemony. It emphasized the shared resolve of China and African countries to promote a fairer, more inclusive global economic order and to uphold the interests of developing nations.
Trade, Innovation, and Economic Development at CAETE
Held concurrently with the Ministerial Meeting, the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) provided a vital platform to demonstrate the progress made under the Ten Partnership Actions. The expo featured a range of exhibitions and events focused on infrastructure development, logistics, legal services, youth entrepreneurship, renewable energy, and CEO-level business dialogues.
These engagements aimed to enhance economic diversification and increase trade between China and Africa, while also spotlighting innovation and modernization as cornerstones of future cooperation.
Deputy Minister Francess Paigie Alghali delivered a keynote address during the Expo’s Plenary Session, in which she underscored Sierra Leone’s firm support for multilateralism, economic partnership, and regional peace and security. She highlighted the positive outcomes of the Sierra Leone-China partnership, noting how bilateral cooperation has accelerated national development in critical sectors.
Advancing Fisheries and Economic Growth
Among the key announcements in her address, Deputy Minister Alghali revealed that Sierra Leone signed a Fish Certification contract with China earlier in 2025. This agreement, finalized in the first quarter of the year, is poised to significantly enhance Sierra Leone’s fisheries sector by aligning local standards with international benchmarks, thereby improving market access and contributing to the country’s economic growth.
The certification deal was praised as a strategic milestone in Sierra Leone’s broader economic partnership with China, reflecting the tangible benefits of sustained diplomatic and technical collaboration.
Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Development
Deputy Minister Alghali also emphasized the importance of long-term collaboration in addressing shared developmental goals across the African continent. She noted that youth empowerment, infrastructure investment, and sustainable development should remain top priorities in the China-Africa partnership agenda.
She further called for continued investment in African economies to ensure inclusive growth, stronger institutions, and increased regional cooperation. By channeling joint efforts into areas that directly impact livelihoods, she said, the partnership can produce long-lasting, people-centered outcomes.
A Stronger Future Together
As China and Africa celebrate 25 years of cooperation under the FOCAC banner, the Changsha events demonstrated a renewed commitment to solidarity, mutual respect, and shared prosperity. For Sierra Leone, participation in these milestone gatherings reinforces its strategic vision to leverage international partnerships for national development, while also playing an active role in shaping the future of the China-Africa relationship.
With a forward-looking approach, Sierra Leone is poised to deepen ties with China and African counterparts through diplomacy, trade, innovation, and investment—ensuring that the next chapter of cooperation delivers even greater benefits for the people of Sierra Leone and the continent at large.
