Ambassador Designate Of The People's Republic Of China Presents Credentials
By Marian Samu

Friday, September 17: The newly appointed Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mr. Cheng Wengu, has presented his Letters of Credence to President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

During the presentation ceremony which took place at the Hill Station Presidential Office, the newly appointed Ambassador noted that the government and people of Sierra Leone, under the leadership of President Kabbah, have scored outstanding achievements in recent years in safeguarding national stability and ethnic unity as well as developing the national economy.

On the external front Ambassador Cheng Wenju commended the government and people of Sierra Leone for their commitment to the policy of peace, non-alignment and good neighbourliness, and for working vigorously to maintain solidarity and cooperation in the sub-region and Africa as a whole. The Ambassador informed President Kabbah that the Chinese government and people highly appreciate these efforts and believed that by exploiting the rich natural resources and relying on their own efforts, the industrious and courageous people of Sierra Leone will surely embark on a road to prosperity and tranquility.

China and Sierra Leone, Ambassador Wengu said, have enjoyed a time-honoured history of friendship and that since the establishment of diplomatic relations thirty-three years ago, the two countries have conducted cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and public health fields.

He expressed gratitude to President Kabbah for the importance he attaches to developing relations with China, especially in pursuance of the one-China policy, thus making a great contribution to the growing bilateral ties. Ambassador Wengu assured President Kabbah of the Chinese government's readiness to work with his government so as to constantly raise the bilateral ties to a new height. He promised to exert his utmost to further consolidate and develop the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Receiving the Letters of Credence, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah expressed deep appreciation for the kind sentiments and warm fraternal greetings from the Chinese Head of State to the Government and people of Sierra Leone. The President also expressed deep satisfaction that the relations between Sierra Leone and the People's Republic of China have over the years been characterized by friendship and mutual respect. He stated that bilateral cooperation between the two countries have increased steadily over the years, particularly in the area of Agriculture and Technical Cooperation.

He noted that the strong continued support for Sierra Leone's development efforts by the government of China has had a great impact on the nation's progress towards peace and stability, adding that the Chinese government's assistance with military hardware and training during the war will never be forgotten. This support, President Kabbah said, has opened up immense opportunities for the successful implementation of programmes addressing critical areas such as food security, health, energy and governance. These, he said, are reflected in the Chinese government's assignment of Medical Officers to Sierra Leone, the installation of a rice mill in Bo, and the rehabilitation of important public buildings including Parliament, Defense Headquarters and the Youyi Building among others.

President Kabbah also said that they were pleased that Chinese business groups were becoming very active investors in Sierra Leone. He assured the Ambassador that his government will do everything within its powers to create an enabling environment for these investments to succeed in various areas of our economy, such as the fishing industry, tourism, agriculture, construction, commerce and mining. To this end, he said, government is working very hard towards the development and implementation of the Bikongo Hydro-Electric Power Project in the eastern region of Sierra Leone with the participation of Chinese investors.

The President also assured Mr. Wengu of government's commitment to put in place the necessary structures that will facilitate socio-economic development in the country.

On the international arena, President Kabbah said that China and Sierra Leone share identity of views on major issues particularly the desire for peace and stability in the world. He welcomed the determination of Mr. Wengu to consolidate and strengthen the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries, and wished him success in all of his endeavours.

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