The deputy Minister of Information and Communications Cornelius Deveaux has said on that Sierra Leone has benefitted a lot from its bilateral relations with China.
He made this statement as the two countries will be celebrating 45 years of bilateral relations this month, and also said that this year is the 60th anniversary of China-Africa Relations.
Deveaux said the 45 year old bilateral relations between the two countries have borne fruits in the economic and infrastructural development sectors of Sierra Leone.
“We are fast learning more lessons from China,” said Deveaux. “We have learned how China grew from a poor country to the second largest economy in the world in only 30 years. We have learned that when you make hard work a natural culture, you always prosper.”
He added that from China, Sierra Leoneans have learned that when a nation believes in itself and its potential, it can grow and be depended upon instead of depending on others.
“We have learned that when we train our youths in skills and development we are sure to grow, we know that with skills and development for the youth Sierra Leone is on the right path.
“We have learned that a nation must be proud of its cultural heritage, and use that heritage to define its natural identity as a source of inspiration for developing and spreading influence to the rest of the world.”
The Deputy Minister said that after 45 years between the two countries Sierra Leone is positioned to win more support as there are many projects in the pipeline that will turn Sierra Leone around.
“I am very much optimistic that the new Mamamah airport project will kick-start soon as well as the water project that will help solve the crisis in the country. After the rains, Regent Road will start as well as the new Ministry of Health building at New England and the Medical Research Institute in Jui. These are projects that have alread completed negotiations.”
He said Sierra Leone has the best brother in China and nothing will make the bilateral relations go sour.
Chinese Ambassador Zhao Yanbo who just returned back from holidays said China will forever be committed to supporting Sierra Leone and other African countries in development.
“China is determined to take its relations with Sierra Leone to another level, China and Sierra Leone and the rest of Africa working together will take the world to another level.”
In December 2015 during the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation Summit in South Africa, China pledged 60 billion U.S. dollars for development in African countries.
Thursday July 14, 2016
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