China grants $30m to Sierra Leone

Jiang Weixin (right), the Special Envoy of Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Feb 21, 2013.[Photo/Xinhua]

FREETOWN - Chinese government granted about $30 million to Sierra Leone for the western African nation's peace construction when Jiang Weixin, the Special Envoy of Chinese President Hu Jintao, met with Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma in Freetown on Thursday.

Jiang, also the Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction, arrived here Thursday morning to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Koroma on Friday.

"This donation from China is handy and visible," the president addressed some of his cabinet ministers and the Chinese delegation after the Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement was signed by both sides, "we'll make full use of this fund establishing a training center for young people to cultivate more skilled and competitive talents for the country, which can also help the youth employment."

Sierra Leone has now carried out the "Agenda for National Prosperity," which aims to enhance the economic and social wellbeing of the people.

President Koroma also expressed appreciation for the envoy's coming for his inauguration and also asked Jiang to convey his best regards to President Hu. "Sierra Leone has always maintained the assistant friendship and special relation with China on the basis of mutual benefit," Koroma said.

The Chinese envoy conveyed the congratulation and best wishes of the Chinese side, saying that with the rapid economic development of Sierra Leone in recent years, the relations between China and Sierra Leone will also embrace new opportunities.

"China is willing to enhance the partnership and deepen the substantial cooperation in various areas with Sierra Leone, further enhancing the bilateral relations to a new level."

China and Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations in 1971. President Koroma visited China in 2009.