Chinese Embassy Holds 4th Session of Face to Face with China
By Abdul Rahman Bah
The Chinese Embassy based in Sierra Leone has on Tuesday 17th October 2023, at the Atlantic Hotel Lumley in Freetown, has held its fourth session of the Face to Face with China.
This is an interact session that provides journalists and other stakeholders in the country to know about the developmental strides of China across the world and also to seek clarifications on issues of national interest.
In his welcome address, the Political Director of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, Mr. Ge Yao acknowledged the meaningful contributions of the media in promoting the work of the embassy. He noted that the Face to Face with China is a program designed to fight against misinformation and provides vital information to members of the public. He added that, the program is organized quarterly to showcase China’s latest development and Africa-China Cooperation. He informed that the fourth session of the Face to Face with China will specifically look at the 3rd Belt and Road initiative, adding that, the Belt and Road initiative was introduced to support African in economic development.
‘’ The 3rd Belt Forum mark the 10th anniversary celebration of the Belt and Road initiative,’’ he stated, adding by stressing that the Belt and Road initiative is very important as it will help African to achieve their plan in terms of development. The 3rd Belt and Road initiative for international cooperation, he further stated that, the initiative has been to other countries like Zimbabwe, Togo, Argentina as well as Sierra Leone and over 140 countries are currently benefitting from it.
In his statement, Mr Li Xiaoyong D’ affaires of the Chinese Embassy stated that the Face to Face with China is a very good initiative as it will help in engaging countries in terms of development and creation of jobs around the Global world. He stressed that it will help to foster peace around the world.
On behalf of the government of Sierra Leone, the Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry Mr. Emmanuel Billy Konjoh, applauded the Belt and Road initiative. He added that, the country’s main import of goods and services is from China. He disclosed that the Belt and Road initiative was established in 2013 and since then, countries around the world have been benefitting from the initiative. He appealed to the China Embassy to continue in their developmental strides in the country.
