By Amin Kef Sesay
On April 30, 2021, the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone hosted a symposium on Xi Jinping’s thoughts on Diplomacy and the 50 Years of China-Sierra Leone Cooperation at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown.
Present at the event were: Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Bundu, H.E. Chinese Ambassador Hu Zhangliang, Chairman of Parliament Committee of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, Leader of NGC, Hon. Kandeh Yumkella and Hon. Members of Parliament, Deputy Director General of MFAIC, President of SLAJ, Ahamed Nasralla and other SLAJ staff as well as members from the fourth estate.
In his keynote address, Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Hu Zhangliang, thanked the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists for co-hosting this symposium with the Chinese Embassy, maintaining that he is of the strong belief that the symposium will help us further deepen the mutual understanding and strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation.
He stated that three days ago, the Republic of Sierra Leone celebrated its 60th Anniversary of independence, and he would like to extend warm congratulations and best wishes to all his Sierra Leonean friends with greater successes in the future, based on what they have already achieved.
Underscoring the main contents, historic significance and practical outcomes of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, Ambassador Hu Zhangliang maintained that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, and the Chinese nation has achieved a tremendous transformation from standing up and growing rich to becoming strong, adding that with the foresight of a great strategic thinker and a keen appreciation of the laws of human society, H.E. President Xi Jinping put forward a series of new ideas, new propositions and new initiatives with distinctive Chinese features, which reflect the call of our times and lead the trend of human progress. President Xi has also given clear answers to a series of key questions in theory and practice, namely, what kind of world and what type of international relations China should promote, what kind of foreign policy best serves China and how China is to conduct diplomacy in the new era. Xi Jinping Thoughts on Diplomacy has thus been formed and established.
The Ambassador added that in recent years, China’s diplomacy, guided by Xi Jinping’s Thoughts on Diplomacy, and aimed at building a community with a shared future for mankind, has exerted immense efforts and made new progress in peaceful development and win-win cooperation. China has actively carried out the “Belt and Road” initiative and advocated the necessary reform of the global governance system. He also reviewed the rich results of China-Sierra Leone Cooperation in the past 50 years.
He noted that the cordial relations between China and Sierra Leone are a result of the joint efforts of generation after generation and all circles of life of the two countries, including all have contributed to the development of this relationship in different ways.
“In August 2018, H.E. President Xi Jinping held official talks with H.E. President Julius Maada Bio in Beijing. The two heads of state reached extensive consensus on consolidating our friendship and mutual trust as well as expanding practical cooperation. Standing at the new historical starting point and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, China will continue to work with Sierra Leone to further enrich our bilateral relations so as to bring greater benefits to our two countries and two peoples” Ambassador Hu Zhangliang concluded.
Hon. Dr. Abass Bundu, as guest speaker, delivered a wonderful opening speech. The Hon. Speaker and other dignitaries spoke highly of China’s diplomacy under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy and China’s great achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He praised the good ties between China and Sierra Leone in the past 50 years, envisaging and wishing that Sierra Leone and China would further expand exchange, deepen cooperation and strengthen friendship in the next 50 and more years so as to promote common development.
This year marks the 50thanniversary of China-Sierra Leone diplomatic relations, as well as the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC. The symposium is one of the series of activities commemorating the anniversaries.
President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, said that he has followed the evolution of China, albeit from a distance, but what has struck him most is their deep thinking, the original ideology, and the concentration on what is good for China, and he is looking forward to learn a few things about the vision of President Xi Jinping, with the hope that somehow he can pick a few lessons from, which he can use to further help in the transformation of SLAJ into a more productive Association just like China is almost topping the world now.
He noted that just a few years ago China was a third-world country, but even though 60 years ago Sierra Leone was influential enough to recommend China for a seat at the United Nations and that China is amongst the first three nations in the world while Sierra Leone continues to struggle, adding that in terms of the relationship between China and Sierra Leone, this should be a period of reflection to see how in the next 60 years the country can be at par with China.
Ahmed Sahid Nasralla added that this is why this symposium is important because they at SLAJ are looking forward to hearing the history, and learning about the strategy that China has used, adding that SLAJ is very pleased and honoured to partner with the Chinese Embassy and the Parliament of Sierra Leone to organize this symposium on ‘President Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy and 50 Years of China-Sierra Leone Cooperation’.
He pointed out that as China and Sierra Leone celebrate 50 years of friendship this year 2021, SLAJ is also celebrating 50 years of existence as a professional umbrella body for the media in Sierra Leone, dedicated to promoting and protecting free speech and freedom of the media, and the event is part of our Golden Jubilee activities.
On behalf of the national and regional Executives, and the entire membership of SLAJ, the President used the opportunity to congratulate the China-Sierra Leone Cooperation, furthering that SLAJ believes that any bilateral tie between China and Sierra Leone must have a component for media development; more than ever before, the country needs independent and professional media to hold this nation together.
