Aruna Turay, AYV News, October 26, 2026
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sierra Leone has engaged local journalists on China’s development initiatives, mining cooperation and opportunities for strengthening economic relations between China and Sierra Leone, as well as the wider African continent.
The media briefing and exchange programme was presided over by Minister Counsellor Zhang Dianbin, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone. It brought together representatives of more than ten media institutions, including A-Z Newspaper and The Calabash Newspaper.
Discussions focused on the fifth anniversary of China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI), President Xi Jinping’s Four-Point Proposition on China–Africa Mining Cooperation, and four principles proposed by the Chinese leader for addressing hotspot issues in Africa.
Addressing journalists, Zhang said the initiatives reflected China’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding partnership with African countries through mutual respect, shared prosperity and sustainable development.
He explained that the Global Development Initiative, introduced by President Xi in 2021, provides a framework for strengthening international development cooperation and accelerating progress towards sustainable development.
The Chinese diplomat reaffirmed Beijing’s readiness to work with Sierra Leone and other African nations to translate its development proposals into practical initiatives capable of delivering benefits to their populations.
He also highlighted the importance of high-quality cooperation in economic transformation, infrastructure development and sustainable growth.
A significant part of the engagement focused on mining cooperation, with discussions highlighting the importance of mutually beneficial partnerships, responsible resource management and long-term economic development.
The briefing also explored China’s stated approach to addressing conflicts and other pressing challenges across Africa, with an emphasis on peace, stability and constructive dialogue.
Young diplomats from the Chinese Embassy subsequently engaged participating journalists in interactive discussions on ten major questions concerning China–Sierra Leone relations and opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation.
Contributing to the discussions, local journalists including Amin Kef, Publisher and Managing Editor of The Calabash Newspaper, called for greater emphasis on mineral value addition, industrialisation, technology transfer and employment creation in China–Sierra Leone cooperation.
Kef described the Global Development Initiative and President Xi’s Four-Point Proposition on Mining Cooperation as potential frameworks through which Sierra Leone could strengthen economic partnerships and maximise the benefits of its natural resources.
He argued that the country should move beyond exporting raw minerals by encouraging local processing, developing technical skills and attracting investment into industries capable of generating employment.
According to the local journalists, stronger cooperation with China could also support Sierra Leone’s Feed Salone programme, agricultural modernisation, renewable energy development, infrastructure expansion and broader industrial growth.
While acknowledging China’s contributions to Sierra Leone’s healthcare, education and infrastructure sectors, they called for greater investment in productive industries that could generate jobs and promote sustainable national development.
They also underscored the role of the media in strengthening public understanding of international partnerships through balanced, accurate and responsible reporting, stressing that China–Africa cooperation should be assessed not only by the value of investments or the number of agreements signed, but also by tangible outcomes, including jobs created, industries established and improvements in citizens’ living standards.
They highlighted the importance of ensuring that international investment partnerships translate into practical economic opportunities for local communities.
The engagement concluded in a cordial and interactive atmosphere, providing journalists with an opportunity to seek clarification on China’s foreign policy priorities, development initiatives and bilateral relations with Sierra Leone.
The programme underscored the importance of sustained dialogue between diplomatic missions and media institutions in promoting public understanding of international cooperation and examining opportunities for deeper collaboration in mining, infrastructure, technology and other sectors of mutual interest.
