By Amin Kef Sesay
His Excellency Hu Zhangliang, China’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone in his address to mark the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China which is the 1st October 2020 stated that in the past 71 years, the People’s Republic of China has gone through an extraordinary journey and achieved the miracle of rapid economic development accompanied with long-term social stability which is rarely seen in the world.
He revealed how the year 2020 witnessed China face up to daunting challenges and blaze its way forward. The envoy said at the beginning of this year, China was struck by COVID-19 abruptly and it turned out to be the most serious public health emergency China had ever come across since 1949.
“Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the whole nation waged an all-out people’s war on the virus. Through painstaking efforts and tremendous sacrifice, China has won strategic victory in controlling the virus,” he furthered adding how in that hard battle, the Chinese people and the Chinese nation carried forward the great spirit of putting people and lives first, maintaining nationwide solidarity, making fearless and selfless contributions, respecting science, and having a sense of mission for humanity.
He said the strength, spirit, efficiency, and responsibility displayed by the Chinese Government and people in fighting the pandemic have been widely recognized and highly acclaimed by the international community.
“The year 2020 witnessed China make solid progress and harvest remarkable achievements,” he mentioned stating that China coordinated epidemic control with economic and social development, and took a lead in resuming normal work and daily life.
The Ambassador pointed out that today, vigour and vitality resumed in each and every corner of China revealing how in the second quarter of this year, China’s economic growth rate turned from negative to 3.2%.
He said China is the first major economy to achieve positive growth since the outbreak of COVID-19 that China has continued to register major scientific and technological breakthroughs.
Ambassador Hu Zhangliang made mention of how the global networking of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System has been completed. The “Tianwen-1” Mars probe has been successfully launched; the commercialization of 5G technology has been accelerated and the development of COVID-19 vaccine has reached the third phase of clinical trial.
He said this year China will clinch a complete victory in eradicating poverty and build a moderately prosperous society in all respects as scheduled.
According to him such will solve the problem of absolute poverty that has plagued the Chinese nation for thousands of years. He said by the end of this year, China will realize the first “Centenary Goal” with the Communist Party of China fulfilling its solemn promise to the Chinese people.
“The year 2020 witnessed China cooperating closely with the International Community to overcome common difficulties.
In the war against COVID-19 that humanity has to fight and win, China provided substantial support to the International Community despite enormous challenges at home. Up to now, China offered medical supplies assistance to more than 150 countries and international organizations and sent over 30 medical expert teams to countries in need,” he continued.
The Ambassador said at the Virtual Opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly and the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19, H.E. President Xi Jinping announced a host of major measures to support other parts of the world.
He stated that although certain countries wilfully pursue unilateralism and hegemony, withdraw from international treaties and organizations and escalate provocative actions against China and other countries, China stays firm in upholding multilateralism, the UN-centered international system and international justice.
He said China actively promotes the construction of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation and the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. In short, China has injected positive energy into a world full of instability and uncertainty which is further exacerbated by the pandemic.
“The year 2020 witnessed China-Sierra Leone friendship get further enriched and consolidated. China and Sierra Leone have always been good friends through thick and thin. At the critical stage of China’s fight against COVID-19, H.E. President Julius Maada Bio sent a letter to H.E. President Xi Jinping expressing sympathy and solidarity. The Parliament of the Republic of Sierra Leone passed a special resolution and awarded a certificate of solidarity to the National People’s Congress of China. Friends from various circles demonstrated solidarity with China in different ways,” he pointed out.
The Ambassador again stated that when Sierra Leone was struck by the virus, China was the first to provide swift medical assistance even though China herself was still faced with huge challenges.
He said so far, the Chinese side has provided several rounds of much-needed medical supplies to Sierra Leone.
On behalf of the Chinese side, the Ambassador wished to take the opportunity to commend the Sierra Leonean Government and people for their robust efforts to prevent and control the pandemic under the staunch leadership of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio.
He said China will continue to support Sierra Leone in the fight against the pandemic and social economic development.
“The more hardships, the greater Chinese people’s resolution.The past 71 years have never been a smooth journey for China, but China has successfully overcome one challenge after another with significant achievements,” he said maintaining that history and facts have proven that the leadership of the Communist Party of China and Socialism with Chinese characteristics are the fundamental pillars for China’s great successes.
The Ambassador iterated that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, the Chinese Government and people have every confidence and capability to tide over whatever storm on their way forward and achieve the great national rejuvenation.
He said China is willing to join hands with the international community including Sierra Leone to build a community with a shared future for mankind and create an even better tomorrow!
