On January 5, local time, the handover ceremony of the China-aided Sierra Leone Diplomatic Training Institute project, which was constructed by the Overseas Company of China Railway Seventh Group, was solemnly held in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Wonie Bio, First Lady Fatima, Foreign Minister Francis, Deputy Foreign Minister Kamara, other senior government officials and representatives of parliamentarians, Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Wang Qing, Public Counsellor Li Xiaoyong, Business Counsellor Du Zijun, and embassy staff, and envoys of some countries in Sierra Leone. More than 300 people attended the ceremony, including the relevant personnel of the Seventh Bureau of China Railway, the construction unit, and Serbia's leading news media workers.
President Bio said that Sierra Leone and China have deep and good cooperation in critical areas such as agriculture, education, infrastructure, and health. He thanked President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for supporting Sierra Leone's economic and social development. The new Foreign Affairs College is proof of the deep cooperation and common vision between China and Sierra Leone. The Diplomatic Academy is part of Sierra Leone's significant achievements in human resource development, which will help consolidate Sierra Leone's good image in the world and produce more and more competitive professional diplomatic talents.
Ambassador Wang Qing said that the brand-new and technologically advanced building of the Foreign Affairs College is a New Year gift from the Chinese government and people to the government and people of Sierra Leone. He hoped and believed that the college would become the "cradle of diplomats" in Sierra Leone and produce more professional diplomats. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to the staff of China Railway Seventh Group and people from all walks of life in China and Cyprus for overcoming various challenges.
The Sierra Leone, Diplomatic Training Institute, is expected to be fully operational by 1 February. As the professional training and educational institution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, the Institute will address capacity gaps in the diplomatic service and promote education, research, and career development. While training more outstanding talents for the diplomatic cause of Sierra Leone and West Africa, the College will also become a landmark building to promote the development of Sino-Sierra Leone friendship.
