By: James Kamara-Manneh
The Chinese Embassy Sierra Leone has joined the People’s Republic of China to celebrate their annual Chinese National Day held on October 1st. The day marks the end of dynastic rule and the march towards democracy. It is an important milestone in the rich history of the People’s Republic of China.
Chinese National Day honors the start of the Wuchang Uprising that eventually led to the end of the Qing Dynasty and later the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. On October 1, 1949, the leader of the Red Army, Mao Zedong, declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Tiananmen Square before a crowd of 300,000 people, while waving the new Chinese flag.
It is at this point the affable, kind, accommodating, cheerful Ambassador Hu Zhangliang bids farewell to the people of Sierra Leone as his diplomatic tenure expires. In his a solemn voice he described his stay as the best ever and a cherish moment working with Sierra Leoneans, and wished the country success, prosperity and happiness.
In his address to attendees, the out-gone Ambassador said this year’s celebration have seen a united china that has overcome all kinds of challenges and creating a rapid economic growth and social stability under the staunch leadership of President Xi Jinping.
“China has explored a development path that suits China’s national conditions, established and continuously enriched the socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Chinese people and the Chinese nation have experienced earth-shaking and gratifying changes”, he expressed.
Amb. Hu opined that with the unprecedented changes with the world experiencing COVID-19 pandemic, it has entered a new period of turbulence. What is regrettable and worrisome is the resurgence of Cold War mentality and bloc politics, the rise of hegemonism, unilateralism, and protectionism, the headwinds facing globalization, the unabated deficit of peace, development, trust, and governance, and the geopolitical tensions. Human society is standing at a new crossroad.
He further reiterated that China remains on the track of seeking progress while maintaining stability. In China, effective investment has continued to expand, market potential has been gradually released, household consumption has steadily increased, industrial production has further recovered, employment and prices have been stable, and technological advances have been fastened.
The Ambassador affirms that China will continue to provide strong momentum for the stabilization and recovery of the world economy and offer broader market opportunities for other countries and China’s economy is of great resilience, with huge potential and wide room for maneuver, because the fundamentals of China’s long-term economic growth have not changed and will not change.
The soft-spoken diplomat reminded the audience that this year’s celebration marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the African Union and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the African Union. China and Africa have continued to deepen their relationship and cooperation in the spirit of “sincere friendship and equality, win-win for mutual benefit and common development, fairness and justice, progress with times, openness and inclusiveness”.
Chinese leaders have kept close contacts with their African counterparts, and the Chinese government has vigorously promoted the implementation of the outcomes of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which brought about new and tangible benefits for the two sides.
However, with the 51 years of diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone the Mr HU said that China has been cooperating in all areas such as education, human resources development, mining, agriculture, infrastructure construction, fight against COVID-19 pandemic, health and sanitation, peace and security has yielded laudable results.
He added that with the coming of new testing kits and COVID-19 vaccines donated by China have been delivered to Sierra Leone during the hike of the pandemic; China- aid mobile clinics have been put into use and benefiting tens of thousands of Sierra Leoneans across the country.
The reconstructed Wilberforce barracks has been commissioned. The rice aid, agricultural machinery, water bowers, fire engines, engineering equipment’s and traffic boat donated by China have been transported to Sierra Leone.
Under the Chinese government assistance programs, the construction of the Foreign Service Academy is to be completed soon and the overhaul of the National Stadium is making smooth progress. Many more community development projects have been carried out for the well-being of the Sierra Leonean people.
He ended by commending Sierra Leone that it has stood firm in adhering to the one-China principle and supporting China’s legitimate efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. In the international arena, Sierra Leone has been working closely with China on issues of common interests. It is of no doubt that China and Sierra Leone are reliable friends to each other.
In response, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Madam Mamadi Gobe-Kamara congratulated on behalf of the government of Sierra Leone the People’s Republic of China for their auspicious occasion. She said during the 73rd year China journey to global leadership, trader, investment, peace and economic developments can be best described as magnificent and a show of extra-ordinary resilience.
The Minister recall that Sierra Leone has enjoyed a cordial relationship with China spanning over 50yrs, and the relationship has been further underpinned by the fraternal and warm relationship that is existing between both country’s President. She disclosed that through a phone conversation between President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and President Xi Jinping of China resolved that both countries will continue to support each other both locally and in the international sphere on issues related to their national core belief and have firmly stood together in globe health challenges.
She conveyed President Bio’s congratulatory message to the People’s Republic of China on the 100 years anniversary of the Communist party of China (CPC).
Madam Kamara mentioned that in July, H.E. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone conversation with Sierra Leonean Foreign Minister Honorable David Francis, exchanged ideas in depth on the implementation of the important consensus reached by H.E. President Xi Jinping and H.E. President Julius Maada Bio. She said both Ministers held fruitful discussions on range of bilateral issues; this included China in-principle commitment to support Sierra Leone’s bid for the UN Security Council.
“Sierra Leone remains grateful to China for the support provided to President Julius Maada Bio for his astute leadership of the Africa Union committee of 10 on the reform of the United Nation Security Council,” she said.
She concluded by stating that both countries will continue its bilateral relationship in pursuant to global justice, peace and security.
The program was climaxed with presentation of farewell from various personalities and affiliated organizations.
