Both Ambassador Koroma and Mr. Zhou Zhaoming discussed ways of furthering ties of cooperation between the two nations, as well as discussed ongoing development cooperation projects in Sierra Leone, amongst them the Mamamah Airport and the establishment of a Regional Centre for tropical disease control in Freetown. 

Ambassador Koroma referred to MOFCOM as a major development cooperation institution of China, suggesting it as “the hub of China’s development cooperation” framework.

Both China and Sierra Leone, the Ambassador said, have had long lasting diplomatic ties, emphasizing that when Sierra Leone had her challenges like the ebola period, the Chinese were the first to intervene with support.

The construction of a regional centre for disease control in Sierra Leone, he said, is a clear manifestation of the unbroken ties of friendship and long standing bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

Though ebola is gone, he said, there are existing post ebola challenges, highlighting ongoing efforts by the Sierra Leone Government aimed at ensuring effective post ebola recovery drive. 

However, he said support would be welcomed from the Chinese in meeting Sierra Leone’s post ebola recovery drive. 

Mr. Zhou Zhaoming in his brief statement congratulated Ambassador Koroma on his appointment and subsequent arrival in Beijing as his country’s envoy.  

His government, he said attaches great importance to both the disease control centre and the airport projects, looking forward to the commencement of the airport construction this year. 

He underpinned that both Sierra Leone and China have indeed had close trade and economic ties whilst expressing optimism of such cooperation to grow at all fronts.