Leaders hail China-Africa connections

Editor's note: President Xi Jinping continued his busy schedule on Wednesday as he held a series of bilateral meetings with foreign leaders who are in Beijing to attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Cooperation to deepen with Sierra Leone

China is willing to work with Sierra Leone to enhance synergistic development strategies and deepen cooperation in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, resources and energy, President Xi Jinping said during his meeting with Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio in Beijing.

Xi pledged to implement economic and livelihood projects to continuously improve people's well-being.

He called on the two countries to continue to firmly stand together on matters concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.

China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Sierra Leone under the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, and promote unity and cooperation among countries in the Global South, Xi said. He added that China would like to work with Sierra Leone to advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and economic globalization that benefits all, and jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries in Africa and elsewhere.

Bio expressed his appreciation for Chinese economic development assistance, saying he hopes to further advance bilateral cooperation in agriculture, security and other fields. Sierra Leone highly appreciates the global initiatives proposed by Xi, which have made important contributions to promoting world peace and development, Bio said.

He thanked China for supporting Sierra Leone in fulfilling its duties as the rotating president of the UN Security Council last month, and expressed a willingness to strengthen international multilateral coordination with China.