From Information Attaché Desk, Sierra Leone Embassy in Beijing, China. Email: slembbj@qq.com. Tel:+8610-65321222
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency, Ernest M. Ndomahina met with the President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. Lin Songtian. The meeting which was held at the Association’s office in Beijing was in connection with discussion surrounding the planning processes relating to the Golden Jubilee celebration of Sierra Leone/China Friendship that has cloaked fifty years without any interruption.
Ambassador Ndomahina thanked the President of the Association for his relentless work in bringing Countries together and standing with Sierra Leone during the Ebola outbreak when Mr. Lin was the Director General of Africa Department at the Chinese Foreign Affairs’ Ministry.
H.E. Ndomahina informed him about the ongoing preparation of the celebration of 50 years’ bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and China characterized by a win-win situation and mutual respect that brought so many benefits to both Countries. He added that the two Presidents of China and Sierra Leone have already celebrated the jubilee by teleconference, where they affirmed of always seeking the interest of the people as core values. ‘For us in China, we will be holding a three-day activity beginning with a Symposium on June 27 followed by games and get-together for staff members and students of both Countries in the Embassy premises. The actual celebration climaxing the occasion with members of other diplomatic missions and dignitaries will be held at Kulun Hotel in Beijing on 29th July 2021’, Ambassador Ndomahina averred.
Ambassador Ndomahina used the opportunity to inform Mr. Lin Songtian about the new Foreign Policy of Sierra Leone, which he said has been changed from Economy Diplomacy to Development Diplomacy aimed at attracting sustainable development. He furthered, Sierra Leone is looking forward to working with reliable partners in the area of attracting development as well as strengthening cooperation with the Chinese Government as it has been over the past 50 years of unbreakable Friendship.
Concluding, Ambassador Ndomahina informed Mr. Lin of President Bio’s flagship program of Free Quality School Education for all Sierra Leoneans beginning from pre-primary to Senior Secondary School.
Responding, Foreign Countries Friendship Association’s President, Mr. Lin Songtian who once served as Chinese Ambassador to the West African Country of Liberia applauded Ambassador Ndomahina for rebranding the Embassy.
He informed Ambassador Ndomahina that the Foreign Ministry and his Association believe in the Sino-Sierra Leone relationship. Mr. Lin made it clear that China values the friendship with Sierra Leone so much that it will treat the celebration with utmost importance.
In the spirit of President Lin Songtian Association’s ‘Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development’s concept, he extended invitation to Ambassador Ndomahina for Sierra Leonean students to visit rural communities so as to see the transformation that has taken place in recent times; an invitation Ambassador Ndomahina has described as timely as it will prepare the grandaunts for national development.