Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Zhao Yong, has highlighted the growing economic and diplomatic ties between China and Sierra Leone, citing increased bilateral trade, expanding exports and strengthened people-to-people relations between the two countries.
Ambassador Zhao made the statement on Thursday, 20 August 2026, during the Chinese Embassy Open Day held at the Chinese Embassy on Spur Road, Wilberforce, Freetown.
He said 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone, describing the relationship between the two countries as one built on mutual respect, support and cooperation.
According to Ambassador Zhao, cooperation between China and Sierra Leone has expanded across several sectors, including politics, trade, health, education and people-to-people exchanges.
He said the relationship has become an example of China-Africa solidarity and mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Ambassador highlighted bilateral trade as one of the major areas of progress, noting that trade between the two countries reached US$2.3 billion in 2025, representing an increase of almost 30 percent compared to 2024.
He said Sierra Leone’s exports to China increased by more than 40 percent during the same period, while China-Sierra Leone trade increased by nearly 38 percent during the first half of 2026.
“I believe this year we are going to witness a new record high bilateral trade volume,” Ambassador Zhao stated.
He attributed the growth partly to China’s zero-tariff treatment for Sierra Leonean products, adding that discussions are ongoing to expand Sierra Leone’s exports to China to include palm oil, coffee and cocoa, in addition to fishing products.
Ambassador Zhao said the Chinese Embassy has organized a series of activities to commemorate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
These activities included a cultural performance featuring music, dance, traditional Chinese music and acrobatics by performers from China and Sierra Leone.
He also highlighted media initiatives, including the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation’s special programme “Talk to China”, a short-video competition organized by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists under the theme “China-Sierra Leone Cooperation in My Eyes,” and a five-part documentary series produced by SLBC, AYV and Star TV.
The Ambassador expressed appreciation to media institutions and journalists for their contribution to promoting understanding of China-Sierra Leone relations.
Ambassador Zhao also spoke about China’s economic performance as the country begins its 15th Five-Year Plan period.
He said China recorded strong economic activity during the first half of 2026, with gross domestic product reaching US$10.09 trillion.
He noted that 6.95 million new urban jobs were created, while China’s total imports and exports reached US$3.63 trillion, representing a 16.9 percent year-on-year increase.
According to him, China’s automobile exports reached 5.1 million units, an increase of 65.3 percent, including 2.4 million new-energy vehicles.
He further disclosed that China’s solar product exports reached approximately US$17.3 billion, representing a 24.7 percent year-on-year increase.
The Ambassador said these developments demonstrate China’s economic resilience and continued efforts towards high-quality development.
He called for greater international cooperation at a time when unilateralism and protectionism are increasing globally.
“China stands ready to work with Sierra Leone to achieve more results in practical cooperation across various fields,” he said.
Ambassador Zhao said 2026 has also been designated the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, with China introducing measures to facilitate travel and interaction between Chinese and Sierra Leonean citizens.
He said Sierra Leonean citizens holding valid diplomatic or service passports can enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days under the bilateral mutual visa exemption agreement.
He further disclosed that the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone has removed the appointment requirement for visa applications.
Applicants for short-term single- or double-entry visas with stays of no more than 180 days are also exempt from fingerprint collection, he said.
According to Ambassador Zhao, China has introduced additional measures to make travel and consumption easier for foreign visitors, including facilitating access to bank accounts, expanding mobile payment services and simplifying tax-refund procedures.
He said more than 6,000 Sierra Leonean citizens travelled to China in 2025, describing the figure as a new record.
He encouraged more Sierra Leoneans to visit China and take advantage of the available facilitation measures.
Ambassador Zhao described the media as an important platform through which Chinese and Sierra Leonean people can better understand each other.
He urged journalists to play a greater role in documenting China-Sierra Leone cooperation and people-to-people relations.
He encouraged Sierra Leonean journalists to become witnesses to what he described as the “real China” by visiting the country, documenting developments and reporting on practical cooperation between the two nations.
He also called on journalists to serve as communicators of friendship between the two peoples by highlighting positive interactions and experiences involving ordinary Chinese and Sierra Leoneans.
The Ambassador further urged the media to uphold professional standards and objective reporting when covering China.
“Objective and impartial reporting is one of the most important professional principles for members of the media,” he said.
He encouraged journalists to remain vigilant against false information and what he described as attempts to undermine China-Sierra Leone relations.
Ambassador Zhao concluded by thanking Sierra Leonean media institutions for their support in promoting bilateral relations and wished participants success in their professional endeavours.
His statement was followed by testimonies from journalists who had visited China, sharing their experiences and impressions. The programme also featured a question-and-answer session on China, during which participants won prizes.
