By Amin Kef (Ranger)
President Julius Maada Bio has formally received the Letter of Credence from the newly appointed Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sierra Leone, Zhao Yong, reaffirming the commitment of both countries to deepen their long-standing bilateral relations. The ceremony took place on Thursday, 8 January 2026, at State House, Freetown.
The credential ceremony was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, who informed the gathering that Ambassador Zhao Yong succeeds Ambassador Wang Qing, following the successful completion of his three-year diplomatic tenure in Sierra Leone. The Minister expressed confidence that the appointment of the new envoy would further strengthen the cordial and mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations, which has been built on decades of cooperation and mutual respect.
In presenting his credentials, Ambassador Zhao Yong conveyed warm greetings from Xi Jinping to President Bio, the Government and the people of Sierra Leone. He commended President Bio for what he described as strong and visionary leadership, noting the progress the country has made in social development, economic governance and national stability under his administration.
The Chinese Ambassador also praised Sierra Leone’s active role in promoting peace and stability within the sub-region, Africa, and the wider international community. He highlighted the country’s engagement within ECOWAS and reaffirmed China’s appreciation for Sierra Leone’s consistent support for the One China Policy. Ambassador Zhao assured President Bio that China remains ready to expand cooperation with Sierra Leone in areas of mutual strategic interest, including infrastructure development, trade and investment, health, education, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges.
Welcoming the Ambassador on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone, President Bio expressed gratitude to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people for the enduring friendship and solidarity shown to Sierra Leone over the years. He described China as a trusted and reliable development partner that has consistently supported Sierra Leone’s national development agenda, particularly in infrastructure, economic growth and social services.
President Bio emphasized that the bilateral relationship between Sierra Leone and China is anchored on mutual respect, shared values and a win-win partnership. He noted that China’s continued support demonstrates a genuine commitment to Sierra Leone’s progress and thanked the Chinese Government for its contributions to key development projects that have positively impacted the lives of Sierra Leoneans.
The President encouraged Ambassador Zhao Yong to build on the strong foundation laid by his predecessor and to continue strengthening cooperation between the two countries. He reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to working closely with the Government and people of China to ensure that the partnership continues to deliver tangible and sustainable benefits to both nations.
The ceremony concluded with expressions of goodwill and optimism, as both sides reaffirmed their shared resolve to further deepen Sierra Leone–China relations in pursuit of development, stability and mutual prosperity.
