By Alvin Lansana Kargbo
China Railway Seventh Group (Sierra Leone) Co., Ltd. (CRSG) has launched a Chinese Culture Learning Program designed to teach Chinese language and promote cultural exchange among Sierra Leonean students and staff. The initiative, held on Saturday 13th September 2025 at the company’s Mongeba Office in Grafton, brought together participants from Freetown Polytechnic and Sierra Leonean Management Staff of CRSG.
The program forms part of CRSG’s “Road in Harmony and Cultural Integration” drive and seeks to strengthen China–Sierra Leone cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Cultural Silk Road. It focused particularly on language training and the appreciation of traditional Chinese tea culture.
CRSG General Manager, Du Xinguo, described language as the foundation of friendship and cooperation. He explained that by crossing borders and learning one another’s languages, people grow closer and build lasting relationships. He recalled that CRSG has operated in Sierra Leone for nearly two decades, while China–Sierra Leone relations span more than 50 years, making the program both timely and meaningful.
Du Xinguo added that the initiative goes beyond culture, aiming to empower young Sierra Leoneans with career skills and international exposure. He said participants would benefit by broadening their horizons, preparing for the global market and gaining values that foster personal and professional growth. He concluded with a call for participants to treat one another like family, work together in harmony and carry the lessons forward into their communities.
Wu Cui, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Sierra Leone, congratulated the participants and highlighted the Institute’s role in promoting Chinese language education since its establishment in 2012. She noted that the Institute now operates 22 teaching sites nationwide and has trained more than 30,000 learners, with nearly 100 Sierra Leonean students selected for study opportunities in China.
She emphasized that the Institute’s curriculum is not limited to language but includes cultural lessons such as martial arts, calligraphy, music and folk dance. According to her, culture is the bridge to understanding and through programs like those participants would gain both professional skills and cultural knowledge. She encouraged attendees to embrace the opportunity to learn, exchange ideas and contribute to strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Representing Freetown Polytechnic, Prince Brainard, Planning and Quality Assurance Officer, said the program marked an important milestone in the institution’s partnership with CRSG. He explained that the theme: “Silk Road: Inhabiting and Cultural Inclusion” symbolized trust, dialogue and cooperation between nations, just as the ancient Silk Road fostered the exchange of ideas and culture.
Prince Brainard added that the initiative would prepare Sierra Leonean youth to become globally minded citizens, capable of contributing to a more connected world. He stressed that the future of the nation depends on equipping young people with skills and values that promote peace, respect and unity. On behalf of the Polytechnic’s Principal, Dr. Samba Moriba, he thanked CRSG for the collaboration and assured continued support for such programs.
Wang Xiang, Chief Supervisor of CRSG, expressed gratitude to the Confucius Institute and Freetown Polytechnic for their partnership. He said CRSG has been rooted in Sierra Leone for 18 years, combining engineering expertise with social responsibility and that cultural exchange is an important part of the company’s work.
He outlined three objectives of the new program: deepening cultural exchange between China and Sierra Leone, empowering cross-cultural teams through training and supporting sustainable development by integrating academic and industrial cooperation. He also described the event as not just a cultural class but a bridge for mutual exchange urging participants to explore the beauty of culture with open hearts and work together to write a new chapter in China–Sierra Leone friendship.
In conclusion, the Chinese Culture Learning Program highlights the growing role of cultural exchange in strengthening international partnerships. By combining language training, cultural awareness and professional development, the initiative provides Sierra Leonean youth with tools for the future while reinforcing bonds of friendship between the two nations.
