The Director-General and Ambassador-at-Large of Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Dr. Victoria M. Sulimani, has successfully concluded a three-day working visit to the People’s Republic of China. The visit, focused on United Nations Security Council (UNSC) matters, comes as a follow-up to previous consultations held in Beijing in July 2023 and as well as the state visit of President Julius Maada Bio.
The visit came as a result of an invitation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Ambassador Sulimani engaged in a series of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening the cooperation between Sierra Leone and China on UNSC affairs. This visit underscores the commitment of both nations to jointly safeguard their common interests and those of other developing countries.
During the visit, Ambassador Sulimani met with several key officials from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions were held with Mr. Miao Deyu, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Wu Peng, Director General of the Department of African Affairs; Mr. Hu Zhangliang, Director-General of the Administrative Department; and Mr. Ma Zhaoxu, Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Central to these discussions were issues concerning current international situations, the priorities of Sierra Leone and China within the UNSC, Sierra Leone’s upcoming rotational presidency of the UNSC in August 2024, and UN Security Council reform. Ambassador Sulimani also delved into bilateral issues with Mr. Hu Zhangliang, focusing on Sierra Leone’s properties in China. Both parties agreed to revisit and renew old bilateral agreements through a new, long-term Memorandum of Understanding.
The visit concluded with a farewell courtesy call on Mr. Ma Zhaoxu, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of China. Deputy Minister Ma praised Ambassador Sulimani for a successful visit and emphasized the importance of continued bilateral engagements. He reiterated China’s support for Sierra Leone’s current UNSC membership and the forthcoming presidency.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and strengthening the bonds of friendship between Sierra Leone and China. The Sierra Leone delegation also included Madam Josephine Isata Bangura, First Secretary at the Embassy of Sierra Leone in China, and Ms. Evelyn Tanty Akakpo, Assistant Secretary at the Multilateral Affairs Directorate of Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
This visit marks another step forward in the deepening partnership between Sierra Leone and China, as both nations continue to collaborate closely on issues of global security and development.
Credit – Information Department of the Embassy of Republic of Sierra Leone Beijing, PRC
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Friday, May 24th , 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)