Chinese Delegation Meets President Kabbah
By Marian Samu

A delegation of the Communist Party of the Peoples Republic of China on Wednesday 28th June 2006 paid a courtesy call on His Excellency, the President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah at his Hill Station Office in Freetown.

The delegation, led by the Vice Minister of the Communist Party, Mr. Ma Wen Pu is in Sierra Leone as guest of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP).

Introducing their guests to President Kabbah, the Chairman of the SLPP Alhaji U.N.S. Jah said the delegation is here to pay a return visit, a visit which they made earlier on to strengthen the relationship between the Communist Party and the SLPP. Alhaji U.N.S. Jah informed President Kabbah that during the visit to China they learnt a lot of good things including the effect of peoples' participation in the achievement of self-reliance especially in areas like food security.

The Head of the delegation thanked President Kabbah for the warm reception and extended fraternal greetings from the President of the Peoples Republic of China. He lauded President Kabbah's leadership and the SLPP for achieving peace for the people of Sierra Leone, adding that as Sierra Leone is now in the process of economic reconstruction, China will continue its support in this area.

Mr. Ma Wen Pu commended President Kabbah's stance and continued support for the one China policy and the part he played in the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Liberia. He pledged that his party will continue to work for the promotion of peace and development between the two countries. He expressed confidence that through the concerted effort of the people prosperity will be achieved noting that the Communist Party of China believes that Party to Party relations is part of the overall State to State relationship.

Speaking on the diplomatic relation between Sierra Leone and China, Mr. Ma stated that this year is marking the 35th Anniversary of China's Diplomatic ties with Sierra Leone and since then, the cooperation among the two peoples have been very impressive and have not changed with time. He promised that they would continue to consolidate and develop the traditional friendship between the two countries. He reaffirmed that the Communist Party and the Chinese people are determined and ready to promote and develop economic ties and continued strategic diplomatic relations with Sierra Leone.

President Alhaji Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, stated that was very pleased to receive the delegation, assuring them that the relationship between Sierra Leone and China which has been going from strength to strength has been beneficial to the two countries.

He explained that he was personally involved in getting the then Interim Government in Liberia to establish diplomatic ties with China as he believed in the One-China policy.
The President noted that although supporting certain policies or positions at international fora can sometimes be very risky especially for developing countries, but it was a risk worth taking. He recalled that during the rebel war when the government had problems of logistics to prosecute the war, China was the only country that helped with the provision military hard ware. He expressed appreciation to China for this invaluable assistance during need.

President Kabbah also highlighted some of the areas that China had come in with help when assistance was solicited especially in the food security programme. He particularly mentioned the provision of tractors and technical experts to assist government in the pursuance of its food security objective.

President Kabbah also emphasized their assistance in the Electricity sector as they have already been contacted to support the Bikongo Hydro-electric project. By supporting the project, he said, China will be providing support to both Sierra Leone and Liberia thereby enhancing their cooperation with the two countries as it is hoped that Liberia will benefit from electricity generated by that project.

Mr. Ma Wen Pu promised to convey the message to the appropriate authorities in China.

End