China Issues More Than 6,000 Visas to Sierra Leoneans in 2024
The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone H.E Wang Qing, has said that the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone issued more than Six Thousand visas to Sierra Leoneans in 2024.
He made these remarks during the historic launching of the book titled; China-Sierra Leone Relations—Friendship, Co-Operation & Win-Win Diplomacy on the 8th of January 2025 at the Chinese Embassy Spur Loop, Freetown.
“The strategic significance of China-Sierra Leone relations has been continuously enriched. In recent years, China-Sierra Leone relations have increasingly transcended the bilateral scope, and their strategic significance has become more prominent. In December 2016, China and Sierra Leone established comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, entering the bilateral cooperation into the fast lane,” he said.
Ambassador Qing said that Sierra Leone and China’s bilateral relations reached its climax in 2024 when His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio visited China twice; making him the first Sierra Leonean leader to set that record.
He mentioned the support of China to Sierra Leone for the attainment of the UN Security Council non-permanent seat and Serra Leone’s active role as the C10 presidency to correct the historical injustice of Africa.
“The exchanges at all levels and fields between China and Sierra Leone have been increasingly closer. In February 2024, H.E. President Bio paid a state visit to China, and in September he visited China again to attend the FOCAC Beijing Summit, making him the first Sierra Leone leader to visit China twice a year. The two countries have also continued to deepen exchanges between local governments, government departments, and military personnel. Last year, three Chinese delegations from Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Hunan Provinces visited Sierra Leone, and more than 10 cabinet members of the Sierra Leone visited China. The Chinese Embassy issued more than 6,000 visas to Sierra Leoneans in 2024, which is a record high and shows that the exchanges between the two countries are becoming more frequent,” he said.
He said that the practical cooperation between China and Sierra Leone has been more comprehensive, more productive and more sustainable. “Our practical cooperation focused on China-aided infrastructure building in early time. The Youyi Building and the National Stadium have become signature projects of China-Sierra Leone friendship. While continuing to do infrastructure such as Foreign Service Academy, Wilberforce Barracks in recent years, we put more resources on technical assistance, education and human capital development, digital economy such as the National Optical Fiber Backbone, Agricultural Technical Assistance, Vocational Training etc., aiming to empower Sierra Leone to tap its own potential for sustainable development. At the same time, our trade and investment ties have got significantly boosted. In 2023, the trade volume reached 1.65 billion US dollars compared to only about 1 million US dollars in 1971,” he said.
Professor David Francis, the editor of the book, gave a historic background on the long-standing bilateral relations between China and Sierra dated back in 1971.
While highlighting the economic benefit of such relations which have given growth to trade and investment, Professor Francis emphasized on the need to sustain such a fruitful friendship and Cooperation.
News 24 publication
