By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Wang Qing, has reaffirmed China’s commitment to the successful completion of the rehabilitation of Sierra Leone’s National Stadium, describing the project as a “symbolic” and “iconic” symbol of bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
Speaking during a joint site visit with Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh and Minister of Sports Madam Augusta James-Teima, Ambassador Wang noted that the stadium, which has served the country for over four decades, is now 90% complete. He stressed that the ongoing over $40 million upgrade is designed to transform the facility into a modern sports arena that will serve the nation for another 40 years.
“The National Stadium is a symbolic project in Sierra Leone. It has been in existence for more than 40 years, and we are working hard to make it an advanced stadium for the people of Sierra Leone,” Ambassador Wang said.
He also stated the importance of equipping the stadium with international-standard seats, referencing a bilateral agreement reached last year during a high-level meeting between the presidents of Sierra Leone and China.
“We noted the concerns for seats all over the stadium in order to meet international standards. When our two heads of state met in China last year, they reached an important consensus to address this,” he stated.
Ambassador Wang commended the Chief Minister’s visit, saying it injects “more momentum” into the project. He expressed eagerness to see the work completed soon, positioning the stadium as a new “icon project” that will further strengthen the longstanding friendship between China and Sierra Leone.
He concluded by thanking the Minister of Sports, the National Sports Authority (NSA), the Chief Minister, and the contractors for their collaborative efforts in moving the project forward.