The Chinese Ambassador designate to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Hu Zhangliang on Monday 1^st April, 2019 presented his copies of letter of credence and letter of recall to the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Alie Kabba at his Tower Hill office in Freetown.

Delivering his speech at the ceremony which was held at the Minister’s Conference Hall at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Tower Hill, Freetown, Ambassador Zhangliang thanked the Minister and team for the hospitable welcome accorded him.

China and Sierra Leone he said are traditional friends and that the two countries in recent years have established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and that under the leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, China and Sierra Leone are reliable friends.

He said the Chinese government and people have attached great importance to the development of the relations with the government of Sierra Leone and its people.

The Ambassador designate said that during president Bio’s visit to China last year, him and his China counterpart, His Excellency Xi Jinping, reached a very important consensus on the blue print to the future development of bilateral relations between the two countries and also provided political guidance for the direction of the relations.

On the Chinese side, he said they are working closely with the Sierra Leone to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and to achieve the outcome from the Beijing Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in order to achieve great development that will bring more benefits to their peoples.

He thanked the Sierra Leone side for their consistence in upholding the one China policy and principle and for providing strong support to China in the international arena on international issues especially at the UN Security Council Reform as well as the numerous elections in international organizations.

China, the Ambassador maintained has been providing substantial support to Sierra Leone and that the cooperation between the two countries had produce very fruitful results which is visibly evident in the country.

Ambassador Zhangliang went on to state that, since His Excellency took up the mantle of leadership of the country, China has been providing support to him and will continue to provide support in the implementation of the ‘New Direction’ strategies.

In his response, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Alie Kabba welcomed the Ambassador designate to the Republic of Sierra Leone and thanked the government and people of China for the warm welcome accorded him during his visit to China early this year.

Speaking about the relationship between the two countries, the Hon. Minister said, China and Sierra Leone have established a tight bond decade back and that the established bond is one that meant good for the peoples of both countries.

The relationship between the two countries he added, has a shared future that has built a true spirit of a win, win cooperation by putting the common interest of their peoples at the heart of the cooperation.

The Hon. Minister told the Ambassador designate that his appointment as an Ambassador to work in Sierra Leone had provided the Ambassador a uniqueness to understand the country’s development aspirations and to also see where the ‘New Direction’ Government is heading for.

He said that, when His Excellency Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada went to China on a state visit last year, they saw the positive chemistry between the two leaders as they held a very fruitful development-oriented deliberations and that they shared the same belief on the prosperity of their peoples. They want to ensure that there is equality in the world and that multilateralism is the key to build international relations.

Minister Kabba said Sierra Leone China have been engaged in talks of strengthening the ties between the two countries in order to reflect a shining example of international relations.

He assured the Ambassador that during his tenure of office in the country, he will enjoy a good working relation with the people of Sierra Leone and that he will also meet with good friends, people who always listen and work together especially in the multilateral scene.

At the UN Security Council Reform, Dr Kabba informed the Ambassador of the important role played by His Excellency Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada on behalf of Africa adding that while the President is performing that role, he is counting on China to fulfill the aspirations of Africa.

He assured Ambassador Hu Zhangliang that the bilateral tie between the two countries will continue to grow adding that people have started seeing the benefits of the FOCAC summit and that he is going to work with him closely.

In his closing statement the Director General and Ambassador-at-Large, Ambassador Paul A. S. Minah re-assured the Ambassador of his ministry’s cooperation in strengthening the bilateral tie between the two countries.

The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Nimatulai Bah-Chang, Directors and Deputy Directors of the ministry