Sierra Leonean Member of Parliament, Hon. Mohamed Festus Lansana, is leading a three-member parliamentary delegation to the Africa–China Parliamentary Conference in Beijing, China, from November 6 to 12, 2026, to strengthen legislative cooperation and deepen diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The conference, held under the theme, “Deepening Exchanges and Mutual Learning between Legislatures to Advance the Ten Partnership Actions for China–Africa Cooperation,” seeks to promote parliamentary diplomacy, strengthen institutional relations and advance cooperation between African countries and China.
The Sierra Leonean delegation comprises Hon. Mohamed Festus Lansana, Head of Delegation; Hon. Mohamed Sheridan, representing the All People’s Congress (APC); and Alusine Maxwell, Senior Protocol Officer in the Office of the Speaker of Parliament.
Addressing the conference, Hon. Lansana conveyed greetings from the Speaker of Parliament, fellow Members of Parliament and the people of Sierra Leone. He reaffirmed the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Sierra Leone and China, emphasizing the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening bilateral relations and advancing national development.
He also welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Ten Partnership Actions for Africa, which focus on industrialization, agricultural modernization, trade and investment, infrastructure development, skills training and improved market access for African products.
According to Hon. Lansana, these initiatives provide opportunities to promote inclusive economic growth, create employment, reduce poverty and improve livelihoods across the continent.
Reflecting on more than five decades of diplomatic relations between Sierra Leone and China, he acknowledged China’s contributions to Sierra Leone’s development, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, sports and security.
Among the major Chinese-supported projects he highlighted were the Youyi Building, National Stadium, Mange Bridge, Magbass Sugar Complex, Jui Hospital, Bo Stadium, China–Sierra Leone Friendship Schools, the Parliament Building and the National Optical Fibre Backbone Network. He also referenced the ongoing rehabilitation of the National Stadium.
The Head of Delegation further recognized China’s contribution to human resource development through government scholarships for Sierra Leonean students, as well as the deployment of medical personnel and agricultural experts to support the country’s health and agricultural sectors.
He noted that the longstanding partnership has also strengthened trade and investment relations, creating opportunities for increased commercial engagement between the two countries.
Hon. Lansana stressed that sustained cooperation between the two legislatures would promote knowledge-sharing, strengthen parliamentary institutions and improve service delivery.
He further noted that the inclusion of representatives from both the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) in the delegation reflects the importance of cross-party parliamentary engagement and national representation in advancing Sierra Leone’s international relations.
In a direct appeal for further institutional support, Hon. Lansana called on the Government of China to assist the Parliament of Sierra Leone in constructing additional office accommodation for Members of Parliament and supporting the digitalization of parliamentary proceedings to facilitate online debates and improve legislative efficiency.
The conference offers Sierra Leone an opportunity to strengthen its diplomatic engagement with China, explore additional development partnerships and contribute to the broader Africa–China cooperation agenda.