February 4, 2021
A-Z has had an exclusive interview with Chinese Ambassador Hu to Sierra Leone on a range of general and specific issues. This exclusive interview has among other things come out with a total cost of last year’s support to Sierra Leone based on a strong bilateral relationship that is growing from strength. Read the full text of the story on page…
State Councilor Wang has held meetings and talks with leaders of five African countries. The host African countries warmly welcomed State Councilor Wang. The diplomatic engagement has witnessed mutual exchanges of views and consensus building in deepening solidarity to fight COVID 19 as well as strengthening the Belt and Road Initiative, (BRI). All of these are within the confines of the Forum on China-Africa Corporation as a framework for increased coordination around international and regional affairs. One tangible outcome of this visit is the signing of MoU by Botswana and DRC on the BRI cooperation with China. A-Z Media Corporation has in an interview with the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone obtained deeper insights into issues revolving around China Africa relations with emphasis on Sierra Leone…
A-Z: China and Sierra Leone have maintained excellent diplomatic relations for the past over 40yrs. What do you think has sustained these friendly relations and specifically how will you assess the relationship between China and Sierra Leone?
Ambassador Hu: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Over the past half a century, China and Sierra Leone have treated each other as brothers and sisters. Our two sides enjoy genuine friendship, mutual understanding, mutual respect, mutual trust, and mutual support. As H.E. President Julius Maada Bio says, China and Sierra Leone are reliable friends. Over the years, China and Sierra Leone have always stood together in each other’s endeavors to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, economic and social development as well as international justice and world peace. I believe that the time-honored China-Sierra Leone friendship will continue to blossom just like the Cotton Tree standing imposingly in the center of Freetown.
A-Z: What is your take on the continued accusation by some Western countries suggesting that China has an intention to re-colonize Africa? Also, there are murmurs of discontent from critiques about China’s increasing economic presence around the world although China remains a true friend of developing countries without interfering in the internal politics of nations, even as western countries dictate how Africa nations are governed. Why is China positioning itself this way?
Ambassador Hu: The accusations of China “re-colonizing” Africa are ridiculous. They are meant to defame China and to sow dissension among China and African countries. But this leads nowhere. The African countries and peoples are the best judge of China-Africa cooperation. Those baseless accusations are pale and feeble in the face of tangible results of China-Africa cooperation. African leaders and people have denounced such accusations time and again. China will never accept such accusations.
China’s cooperation with Africa in all fields is guided by the principle of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith pursuit of the greater good and shared interests as required by H.E Chinese President Xi Jinping. H.E. President Xi Jinping officially declared at the FOCAC Beijing Summit in 2018 that China follows a “Five-No” approach in her relations with Africa namely: No interference in African countries’ pursuit of development paths that fit their national conditions; No interference in African countries’ internal affairs; No imposition of China’s will on African countries; No attachment of political strings to assistance to Africa; and No seeking of selfish political gains in investment and financing cooperation with Africa. President Xi also declared that China will join hands with Africa to build a China-Africa community with a shared future featuring joint responsibility, win-win cooperation, happiness for all, common cultural prosperity, common security, and harmonious co-existence. As H.E. President Xi Jinping pointed out, “No one could undermine the great unity between the Chinese people and the African people. No one could hold back the Chinese people or the African people as we march toward rejuvenation. No one could deny the remarkable achievements made in China-Africa cooperation, not with their assumption or imagination. No one could stand in the way or obstruct international efforts to support Africa’s development”.
Those who accuse China of “re-colonization” or “new colonization” should explain in the first place what those words mean. They should reflect on what their own countries have done to Africa and Africans.
A-Z: How do you see the prospects of Chinese investments in Sierra Leone? What development and investment plans do you have for Sierra Leone in 2021?
Ambassador Hu: There is a big potential for China-Sierra Leone cooperation in trade and investment. At present, dozens of Chinese companies have invested in Sierra Leone, creating about 4500 direct jobs. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trade volume between our two countries still hit US$480 million from January to November of 2020. That is even higher than the US$467 million recorded in the same period of 2019. Recently, there has been significant progress in cooperation between Kingho Company Limited and the Sierra Leonean government on the Tonkolili iron ore, which may boost the mining sector, one of Sierra Leone’s economic pillars. I hope that the trade and investment cooperation between China and Sierra Leone will bear more fruitful results in 2021. At present, China and Sierra Leone are in discussion around series of cooperation projects in agriculture, fisheries, health, infrastructure, and so on. The Chinese Embassy will continue to encourage competent and credible Chinese companies to explore business opportunities in Sierra Leone. I believe that the Sierra Leonean side will continue to embrace and support such efforts with solid policy measures and legal guarantees.
A-Z: The Forum on China-Africa Co-operation is a platform established by China and African countries for collective consultation and practical cooperation. How has Sierra Leone benefited from this scheme?
Ambassador Hu: The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020. Twenty years on, FOCAC has become a new model of friendship, cooperation, and common development among developing countries. From participating in the First Ministerial Conference in 2000 to the attendances of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio at the FOCAC Beijing Summit in 2018 and Hon. Foreign Minister Nabeela Tunis at the Coordinators’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Beijing Summit in 2019, Sierra Leone has always been an active member of FOCAC and has also benefited substantially from the FOCAC mechanism. The tangible outcomes include but are not limited to the Office Building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bo Stadium, three Mini Hydro-power Stations, the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital (Jui), National Fiber Optical Transmission Backbone Project Phase Ⅰ, two primary schools in Masingbi and Makeni Communities, Lumley Market Second Juba Bridge, 30 Garbage Dump Trucks, a VVIP convoy, as well as rice aid, medical and health assistance, and agricultural technical cooperation, etc… More than 500 Sierra Leonean students have been awarded the Chinese Government Scholarships to study in China, and over 5100 personnel from all walks of life have been invited to China for various short-term training courses. More other projects are underway.
A-Z: Some Western countries have accused China of creating the COVID-19 and also failing to be transparent at the early stage of the pandemic. How true is this allegation?
Ambassador Hu: The allegation is false with ill intentions. And certain western countries are just trying to blame China for their poor epidemic response and to discredit China in the service of their political gains. China has given a thorough account of its epidemic response with solid facts and a clear timeline. The origin-tracing of the virus is a very complex issue that needs to be assessed by scientists and specialists based on facts and science. China was the first country to report the virus to the WHO, but that does not necessarily mean the virus originated in China. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese side has maintained close communication and cooperation with WHO on global origin-tracing in an open, transparent and responsible manner. In February and July of 2020, despite the arduous task of prevention and control, China invited WHO experts in twice. On January 14 of 2021, a group of WHO experts arrived in China and held exchanges with Chinese scientists and medical experts over scientific cooperation in origin-tracing. The WHO and many other international experts fully recognized Chinas epidemic response and origin-tracing work. Many top medical scientists and renowned periodicals such as The Lancet have repeatedly pointed out that the COVID-19 virus came from nature and all countries in the world should make concerted efforts to respond to it. As new developments emerge, the world’s knowledge regarding the virus deepens and earlier cases than those reported by China are said to be found. We have seen and heard about constant international reports of where and when COVID-19 first broke out in other places. It is highly likely that origin-tracing will involve many countries and localities, and WHO will need to pay similar visits to other countries and regions as the need arises. China will continue to cooperate with WHO and other international experts in the global origin-tracing work.
A-Z: How supportive China has been to fight COVID-19 in Sierra Leone and Africa?
Ambassador Hu: The support is mutual. At the critical stage of China’s hard battle, H.E. President Julius Maada Bio sent a message to H.E. President Xi Jinping expressing sympathy and solidarity. The Parliament 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 in Sierra Leone showed their solidarity with China in different ways. Other African countries did similarly. China staunchly supports Sierra Leone and Africa in combating the pandemic. China has provided 53 African countries and the African Union with essential anti-pandemic supplies swiftly to meet their urgent needs. The Chinese side commenced the construction of the Africa CDC headquarters as a government assistance project. Up to now, the Chinese side has provided eight rounds of urgent donations to Sierra Leone, inclusive of PPEs, respirators, facial masks, medical gloves, ventilators, testing kits, etc. Three Chinese medical expert teams have been working day and night with their local colleagues in virus detection, patient treatment, and technical training. In June 2020, H.E. President Xi Jinping and African leaders held a successful Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19. China is faithfully implementing the outcomes of the Summit and will continue to provide medical and material aid to African countries in need, spur cooperation between paired-up Chinese and African hospitals including the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital (Jui), and help improve Africa’s public health emergency response capacity.
A-Z: Scientists in the USA and Europe have developed vaccines against COVID-19. How far has China gone to develop its Vaccines? Will the Chinese vaccines be made available to poor countries like Africa?
Ambassador Hu: At present, several Chinese vaccine candidates are undergoing phase Ⅲ clinical trials smoothly abroad. China has also taken an active part in COVAX and other relevant international cooperation initiatives. The Chinese government always puts the vaccine’s safety and efficacy in the first place. Chinese companies have been developing vaccines in strict accordance with laws and regulations, following scientific laws and regulatory requirements. At the end of 2020, the National Medical Products Administration of China has approved conditional marketing authorization for Sinopharm’s inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, which testifies to the safety and effectiveness of Chinese vaccines. Countries like the UAE and Bahrain have approved the registration of Sinopharm’s inactivated vaccines. As for the accessibility of the vaccines, China will firmly fulfill her commitment that China’s vaccines will be provided as a global public good. China stands ready to cooperate with African countries in need of COVID-19 vaccines and make them more accessible and affordable in Africa.
A-Z: What lessons can Sierra Leone learn from China’s social-economic development?
Ambassador Hu: Every country has the development path that best suits itself. China always respects the choice of other countries. In China’s case, the people-centered philosophy is one of the major guidelines for development. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government always put people first and foremost. All the development policies, strategies, plans, and governing systems are true of the people, by the people, and for the people. Over the past 40 years or more, China has lifted 800 million people out of abject poverty. Facing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese government and people have taken the most comprehensive, rigorous, and thorough epidemic prevention and control measures and succeeded in bringing the epidemic under control while at the same time realizing steady economic recovery. The Chinese people of all ethnic groups are working hard together to create a better life for themselves and to realize the Chinese Dream of great national rejuvenation. I’m sure that the people of Sierra Leone will make steady progress in social-economic development under the leadership of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio.
