By Amin Kef Sesay
The Chinese Embassy hosted its second session of Information Salon interactive program on the 5th May, 2022 geared towards updating members of the Fourth Estate as well as individuals from various walks of life on the Global Security Initiative, China’s economic development and China-Sierra Leone relations.
In attendance were the Chairman of the Independent Media Commission (IMC), Dr. Victor Massaquoi, Station Manager of Radio Democracy Mme. Asmaa James, representatives from the media and Sierra Leone-China friendship organizations, Minister Counsellor Li Xiaoyong and other diplomats of the Chinese Embassy.
Li Xiaoyong, in his contribution, said the Global Security Initiative, first proposed by President Xi Jinping, in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2022 annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia, fully represents China’s wisdom and solution to make up for the global security deficit and guard world peace and tranquility.
He furthered by intimating that with “six commitments” as its core meaning, the initiative further promotes the building of a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture on the basis of the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable concept of security, which echoed the global call for peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit.
The Chinese Minister Counsellor added that as a responsible major country, China always stands on the right side of history and the right side of international fairness and justice also maintaining that in response to the calls of the times, China will double its efforts to work with other countries for lasting peace and universal security.
Updating China’s economic development, Li said that despite challenges from fresh COVID-19 outbreaks and geopolitical uncertainties, China’s GDP in the first Quarter of this year expanded 4.8 percent from a year earlier.
He underscored that the fundamentals of China’s economy are strong and resilient, with enormous potential, vast room for maneuver and long-term sustainability.
Li also briefed the latest significant progress of China-Sierra Leone cooperation in health, infrastructure, education, etc.
Dr. Massaquoi and other guests spoke highly of the Global Security Initiative, congratulated China on its economic development achievements and appreciated the results of Sierra Leone-China cooperation. They said that the global security initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is timely and rich in connotation. Its advocacy of adhering to a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept is conducive to the establishment of an international order of mutual respect, equality and mutual trust, and provides a new direction for maintaining world peace and tranquility, eliminating the root causes of international conflicts and achieving long-term peace and security in the world.
It was apparent that Sierra Leone is ready to participate actively in global security initiatives and work with China and other countries to build a safer and better world.
During the programme, the diplomats of the Embassy had an in-depth interaction with the participants and exchanged views on China’s economic development and the fight against epidemics, Sino-Sierra Leone cooperation in fisheries and China’s stance on the Ukrainian issue.
