By Amin Kef Sesay
In a Media Dialogue on China’s development and China –Sierra Leone Friendship held on the 31st March 2021, Ambassador Anthony Navo Junior, CEO of the AYV Media Empire and Asmaa James, who is also the Station Manager of FM 98.1, engaged the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone H.E. Hu Zhangliang.
Ambassador Anthony Navo Junior asked him to take them through China’s “Two Sessions”(the Fourth Session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Fourth Session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)) concluded successfully.
In his response, Ambassador Hu said yes he is right saying the “Two Sessions” he mentioned are major events in China’s political life. He furthered that every year, the “Two Sessions” will review and adopt important policy decisions on the political, economic, social and cultural development of China adding that this year, the “Two Sessions” were held earlier this month.
Going further the CEO of AYV asked what are the important outcomes of this year’s “Two Sessions” to which the Chinese Ambassador answered that, “You know that this year is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), so it’s a year of great significance.
“It is also the first year for China to implement the building of a modern socialist country in all respects.
“This year’s “Two Sessions” fully recognized the historic achievements made by the Chinese Government and people under the staunch leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core.”
Ambassador Navo said he wanted to know if the “Two Sessions” set out any development plan for the year of 2021.
Ambassador Hu in his response pointed out that the “Two Sessions” this year reviewed and adopted the Report on the Work of the Government made by H.E. Premier Li Keqiang, adopted the Report on the Work of the Standing Committee of NPC, the Report on the Work of the Standing Committee of Committee of CPPCC.
He said it also adopted the Outline for the 14th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development and Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. Also, the “Two Sessions” approved the NPC’s Decision on Improving the Electoral System of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
He highlighted that it also reviewed and adopted the National Budgetary Report as well as other issues adding that all items on the agenda of the “Two Sessions” were completed successfully, laying a solid foundation for China’s development in the new era.
Dilating on the targets for China’s development in 2021, the Chinese Ambassador mentioned that their target is that in 2021, the GDP will grow above 6 percent.
“We are going to create over 11 million new urban jobs and we will control the surveyed urban unemployment rate at around 5.5 percent,” he said adding that they are going to ensure that the grain output will stand at 650 million tonnes and they will keep the CPI increase at around 3 percent.
“We’re also going to improve China’s foreign trade, balance of payments, personal income, environment protection, scientific and technological R&D and food security,” he continued noting how they foresee another year of rapid progress for China although not without challenges.
He said recently, a report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) projected that China’s economic growth in 2021 will be at about 8.1%, above what they set for the development goal in their Government report saying it reflects the International Community’s confidence in China’s economic development.
On her part Asmaa James asked the Ambassador, if he could please throw light on what kind of development achievements China has made in the period of the “13th Five-Year Plan”.
Ambassador Hu said since 1953, China has been formulating and implementing five year development plans maintaining that it is one of the important measures to achieve desired, fast and sustained national development.
“During the “13th Five-Year” plan period from 2016 to 2020, China made great achievements in socio-economic development.
“The GDP reached 101trillion RMB, which is over 15 trillion U.S. dollars.
“Now China’s GDP accounts for 17% of the world’s total and China succeeded, during the “13th Five-Year” period, in eradicating abject poverty, achieving the UN SDG on poverty reduction 10 years ahead of schedule.
“China’s annual grain output remained above 650 million tonnes for five consecutive years, which ensured China’s food security and self-sufficiency,” the Ambassador stated.
He said China succeeded in building the largest social security network in the world revealing how the basic medical insurance covered 1.3 billion people and the basic old-age insurance covered nearly 1 billion people.
The development or advancement in science and technology, he pointed out, also achieved great breakthroughs underscoring how those are the major achievements during the “13th Five-Year” plan period.
Asmaa James quizzed about the development achievements for the year of 2020.
Ambassador Hu responded that in the year of 2020, the whole world was severely taken by the COVID-19 pandemic furthering how China is the same and they are also facing a deep global economic recession.
He continued that the Chinese people, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with H.E. General Secretary Xi Jinping at its core, reacted with firm resolve and profound tenacity.
According to him China achieved major strategic success in containing COVID-19 and China was the world’s only major economy which achieved positive GDP growth (2.3 percent).
He revealed that the registered urban unemployment rate dropped to 5.2% and China attained a complete victory in the fight against poverty.
The Ambassador said new strides were made in China’s opening up to the outside world, giving an instance of the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement.
He said that agreement will create the largest free trade area in the world, in which China played an important role adding that in 2020, a stream of scientific and technological breakthroughs were also made, also giving an instance of the explorations of the Mars, of the moon and of the deep-sea etc..
“H.E. President Xi Jinping and other State leaders hosted or attended several major diplomatic events, including the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19. China has been very firm in upholding the UN centered international system, safeguarding multilateralism, and promoting international anti-COVID-19 pandemic cooperation.
“China was actively promoting and advocating for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and a community of health for all,” he informed.
On the Sierra Leone-China relationship Asmma James said this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone. No doubt China’s help is everywhere as you can see. And the two sides, I believe, are planning for the celebrations. So what is the plan for the celebrations?
In response Ambassador Hu stated that since the establishment of the diplomatic relations on July 29, 1971, China and Sierra Leone have treated each other as brothers and sisters.
“Our two countries enjoy genuine friendship, mutual understanding, mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual support.
“Allow me to quote the words of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio. He said “China and Sierra Leone are reliable friends”. Reliable means whatever the situation is we are always together.
“From Youyi Building to the National Stadium, from the Sierra Leone Foreign Service Academy under construction to the newly completed Freetown 3.2km Ring Road, numerous tangible projects have been witnesses to the ever-growing friendship between our two countries.
“You may also recall that whenever there were severe challenges, for instance the outbreak of Ebola and the Mudslide Disaster, China came to Sierra Leone’s assistance swiftly. Now, China is actively helping Sierra Leone in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Over the years, the Chinese side has provided opportunities under the Government scholarships programs for over 1000 Sierra Leone students to study in China.
“China has invited over 5000 Sierra Leoneans to go to China for short-term training courses and other exchanges. China has sent 21 medical groups, 13 agricultural technical assistance group, 4 military expert groups and several CDC expert groups to Sierra Leone.
“The bilateral trade and investment between our two countries have also expanded, which has helped promote our common development.
“Also, the support is mutual. Sierra Leone has been firm in providing political and moral support to China on issues involving China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, dignity and security. We will never forget that Sierra Leone is one of the friendly countries that supported the restoration of the legitimate seat of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations.
“The 50 years of profound friendship and fruitful cooperation have been in the big interests of our two countries and two peoples. Our two sides are in close communication on organizing activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relationship.
“I wish that Sierra Leonean friends from all walks of life will actively join us in this celebration in different ways,” the Ambassador elucidated.
Asked by Asmaa James what is his vision for the China-Sierra Leone cooperation, Ambassador Hu said China will continue to work with Sierra Leone for more fruitful cooperation in all fields.
He furthered that: “At present, China and Sierra Leone are carrying out or in discussion of a series of cooperation projects in agriculture, fishery, health, telecommunication, human resources development, energy development and many other areas, which are of the Sierra Leonean government’s top concerns.
The Chinese side will continue to encourage competent and credible Chinese companies to invest in Sierra Leone.
I can tell that the Sierra Leonean Government and people warmly welcome China-Sierra Leone cooperation. Also I believe that the Sierra Leonean side will continue to provide consistent policies and legal guarantees for this cooperation to reach a new high, and China will do the same.”
