By Amin Kef (Ranger)
In a significant display of diplomatic unity, the Chinese Vice President, Han Zheng, has expressed China’s commitment to deepening practical cooperation with Sierra Leone during a meeting with Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 21, 2023, in New York.
Vice President, Han Zheng, conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to President Bio, emphasizing the strong and enduring friendship shared between China and Sierra Leone. Han described the two nations as “good brothers and good friends” with a history of unwavering mutual support on issues vital to each other’s core interests and major concerns.
Highlighting the recent years of close high-level exchanges and fruitful practical cooperation between the two nations, Vice President Han Zheng commended Sierra Leone’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period of 2024-2025.
In response, President Julius Maada Bio reaffirmed the long-standing diplomatic and bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and China, rooted in mutual respect, trust, and a commitment to sustainable partnership. The meeting provided an opportunity for both leaders to underscore their dedication to advancing shared interests, which encompass infrastructure development, trade, people-to-people exchanges, food and water security, as well as the exchange of knowledge and skills.
President Bio conveyed his best wishes to President Xi Jinping through Vice President Han Zheng and expressed his gratitude for China’s consistent and selfless assistance to Sierra Leone, underscoring China as a dependable and trustworthy friend to the Sierra Leonean people.
Furthermore, President Bio affirmed Sierra Leone’s adherence to the one-China principle and its readiness to enhance practical cooperation with China across various domains. He emphasized their joint commitment to safeguarding the legitimate interests of developing countries, underlining a vision of peace, stability, and development on a global scale.
As the diplomatic bonds between China and Sierra Leone continue to strengthen, these pledges of cooperation signal a promising future for mutual growth, international collaboration, and shared global prosperity.
