Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, will on August 8th 20015, embarked on a three day official visit to the three West African nations of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, on the invitations of the Foreign Ministers of the said countries.
Briefing top diplomats from the three countries’ Embassies in the People’s Republic of China, Vice Director, African Department, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Shiting said, following the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease over a year ago, his country was the first to respond in the form of medical help, to the tune of 120 million dollars, with 1,200 medical personnel sent to the three countries.
The Foreign Minister’s visit to Sierra Leone on the 8th, Liberia on the 9th and Guinea on the 10th, Wang Shiting said, is to have discussions with the countries’ leaders on ensuring a complete eradication of the virus and the help China could give to the post Ebola economic recoveries of the affected countries.
The visit, he said, is also aimed at lifting the bars of cooperation ties between the three countries and China, as well serving as an example in the International Community that as a country, China is supportive of the post Ebola recovery drives of the affected nations so as to give zeal to the International Community to do same. “This is an important visit as it shows our commitment to Africa and a demonstration of our friendship with the continent”, Wang Shiting said.
Responding on behalf of Sierra Leone, Charge de Affairés, Madam Kumba Alice Momoh thanked, on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone, the Government of China for its continued support to Sierra Leone, whilst paying special attention to the support rendered during the ebola outbreak.
China has, for decades, remained a strong partner of Africa, especially in the continent’s development drive. This partnership was in 2000, defined within the framework of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Established as a mechanism for fostering ties between the continent and China, FOCAC now serves as a platform in addressing the challenges brought by economic globalization and in promoting common development initiatives.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations and the forging of the people to people ties in the early 1970s, China and Sierra Leone have enjoyed long lasting friendship. Not only had Sierra Leone played a lead role in China’s entrance into the UN Security Council, over the years, China, on the other hand, has been of great help to Sierra Leone’s development efforts.
The country has remained one of the lead development partners robustly helping Sierra Leone in the fight against the Ebola virus with support aggregating millions of dollars.
President Ernest Bai Koroma has always commended the Chinese government for the continued support and commitment to the ongoing fight against the Ebola virus disease (EVD) that has killed thousands of people in the small West African state. The visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, to Sierra Leone on the 8th is expected to further build on the ties and friendship between the two nations.
