By: Mohamed Sahr
In a bid to strengthen human capacity development, China Aid, in partnership with Hunan International Business Vocational College and with the support of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, officially launched an overseas training course for 50 participants on automobile repair and maintenance. The event, held at the Foreign Service Academy on Friday, 28th November 2025, marks a milestone in Sierra Leone-China bilateral cooperation.
Wang Peng, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, described China-Sierra Leone relations as the strongest in the history of both countries. He highlighted China’s support for Sierra Leone in multiple areas, including human capacity development.
He also noted that China has consistently provided scholarships for Sierra Leonean students and emphasized that this training program is the first vocational program organized by China in Sierra Leone.
“China is committed to supporting Sierra Leone’s human capital development,” Peng said. He urged participants to make the most of the learning opportunity and to build networks, particularly with Chinese instructors during the course.
Franklyn Brima Fawundu, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy for supporting the training program.
He outlined that China and Sierra Leone have collaborated across education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, trade, and investment. Fawundu described the training as another example of the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, emphasizing that it is designed to provide participants with practical tools and knowledge.
The training course is scheduled to run from 28th November to 18th December 2025. Fawundu encouraged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity and the expertise of the facilitators, stressing that the program would be a valuable investment in their vocational growth.
Yan Ruohong, Vice President of Hunan International Business Vocational College, explained that the program targets participants nationwide to strengthen their skills in automobile repair and maintenance. He added that the college, which has a 70-year history, boasts state-of-the-art facilities and has trained over ten thousand participants from low-income and Belt and Road countries.
Ruohong stated that this program will further strengthen China-Sierra Leone cooperation. He assured that the college will continue contributing to the shared future of the two countries, emphasizing that automobile maintenance plays a key role in supporting sustainable economic growth.
“We have invited experts and professors from leading automotive and vocational universities to deliver systematic instruction on key topics,” he said, adding that the program includes hands-on training to enhance practical skills.
Abdul Abu Bakarr Senesie, Director of TVET at the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, reiterated that the ministry will continue focusing on quality assurance and procedures. He thanked the Chinese Embassy for providing this valuable opportunity for capacity development.