Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio recently gave an exclusive interview to China Global Television Network (CGTN), a subsidiary of China Media Group (CMG), in New York, where he highlighted the strength of Sierra Leone’s relations with China and called for greater global cooperation in addressing Africa’s challenges.
During the interview, President Bio described the relationship between Sierra Leone and China as strong and resilient, founded on the principle of mutual respect. He stated that China has proven itself to be a reliable friend through concrete actions and sustained support.
The President noted that more than one million people in Sierra Leone are directly involved in the fishing industry. He said China has decided to build a fully equipped modern fishing port for the country, which will help fishermen secure higher profits while also increasing government revenue.
President Bio further revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping had stressed to him the critical importance of infrastructure for agriculture and food security. He described China as a vast market that not only pursues its own development but also advances together with its friends, adding that such an approach could contribute to making the world more peaceful and stable.
Reaffirming Sierra Leone’s diplomatic stance, President Bio said the country will continue to firmly adhere to the One-China policy, emphasising that Taiwan is an integral part of China.
Speaking on food security, the Sierra Leonean leader stated that in times of conflict, the United Nations Security Council should uphold its moral responsibility as a representative body of the international community. He stressed that no individual, institution, state, or party should use war as a pretext to destroy agricultural land, create hunger, or worsen food insecurity.
Commenting on the broader African situation, President Bio said that countries across the continent share interconnected destinies, and that crises affecting one nation inevitably impact others. He therefore called for stronger global cooperation through the United Nations Security Council to collectively address international threats and humanitarian challenges facing Africa.
Source: Chai-Alim-Prema, China Media Group.