By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Dr. Abu Bakarr Karim, the newly appointed Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), officially commenced his duties on Thursday, November 23, 2023. The commencement followed a formal presentation of his letter of recall and letter of credence to the Director-General of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hong Lei.
The ceremony took place in Beijing, the capital city of China, where the Director-General of the Protocol Department welcomed and congratulated Ambassador Karim on his new role. Mr. Lei expressed his commitment to deepening bilateral relations between China and Sierra Leone, acknowledging the historically strong ties between the two nations and emphasizing the need for further collaboration.
Ambassador Karim presented the Presidential Credentials, bestowed upon him by Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, and conveyed warm greetings from President Bio, the Government and People of Sierra Leone to their Chinese counterparts, including President Xi Jinping of the PRC.
Expressing his gratitude for the warm reception by the Chinese Government, Ambassador Karim affirmed his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. He highlighted potential areas for increased cooperation, such as agriculture, trade, health, infrastructural development, and education through exchange programs.
In alignment with his mandate to promote mutual partnerships that contribute to Sierra Leone’s socio-economic development, Ambassador Karim emphasized that his primary objective was to foster ties that are both mutually beneficial and further the interests of Sierra Leone.
The dialogue between the two parties also included discussions about the forthcoming visit of Sierra Leone’s President to China. Both sides underlined the significance of expanding economic cooperation, especially in sectors like agriculture, mining, and technology.
The formal presentation of the letter of credence serves as the official recognition of Dr. Abu Bakarr Karim as Sierra Leone’s ambassadorial representative in China. This noteworthy event signifies an important step towards bolstering diplomatic relations and fostering mutual cooperation between the two nations.
It is expected that Ambassador Dr. Abu Bakarr Karim will present his final credentials to the President of the PRC on a date to be communicated by the Chinese Foreign Ministry to the Embassy of Sierra Leone.
