China, Sierra Leone vow to further enhance friendly ties

• Source: Xinhua
• [13:12 May 26 2009]
• Comments

Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with his Sierra Leone counterpart Ernest Bai Koroma here Monday, both agreeing to push the bilateral friendly and cooperative ties to a new height.

Hu gave Koroma a red-carpet welcome, including a 21-gun salute and parade, at the Great Hall of the People. He started their talks by congratulating the Sierra Leone and African people on the 46th anniversary of Africa Day, a festival to celebrate the founding of the Organization of African Unity, which was succeeded by the African Union in 2002.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) holds a welcoming ceremony for his Sierra Leone counterpart Ernest Bai Koroma in Beijing, capital of China, May 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Hailing the traditional friendly exchanges between the two peoples and ruling parties, Hu said "the Chinese people would never forget the two countries' forging diplomatic ties in the 1970s, nor would they forget the precious support Sierra Leone offered for the restoration of China's legitimate seat in the United Nations."

He expected Koroma's current trip to further step up traditional friendship and facilitate cooperation.

Koroma said his country was grateful to the selfless assistance China offered over the years, adding the one-China policy is a cornerstone of Sierra Leone's China policy.

Taiwan and Tibet, both historically and geographically, are inalienable parts of the People's Republic of China, he added.

Calling the two countries "good friends and partners", Hu said the China-Sierra Leone traditional friendship remains unchanged despite the turbulence of international situations.

Hu said President Koroma highly treasures bilateral ties and firmly sticks to the one-China policy. Bilateral relations have shown a sound momentum of accelerated growth since President Koroma took his office.

The two heads of state agreed to explore cooperation in the areas of infrastructure construction and resource exploitation.

To boost bilateral ties, Hu proposed to keep close contacts among the two countries' leaders, maintain friendly exchanges between lawmaking organs and ruling parties, and make joint efforts to facilitate bilateral education, public health and human resources programs.

He told Koroma China values its trade ties with Sierra Leon, and is committed to helping speed up the country's economic reconstruction.

Hu welcomed more Sierra Leone young people to study in China, pledging to foster more professionals for the country.

China had offered scholarship to altogether 311 Sierra Leone students since 1976.