The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Communications, Technology and Innovation, has signed a USD$50 million agreement with China National Technical Import&Export Corporation for the SMART Sierra Leone Project.

The signing took place on the margins of the FOCAC Summit in Beijing, marking a significant step forward in Sierra Leone’s digital transformation efforts.

During the signing ceremony, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio highlighted the three main objectives of the SMART Sierra Leone Project: expanding internet connectivity to over 400,000 previously unconnected citizens, establishing national data centres to manage and protect sovereign data, and enhancing security measures around critical state infrastructure in Freetown.

Additionally, the Minister of Communications, Technology and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, signed an agreement with Huawei Group for the Digital Village Project, which will be implemented in Tormabum. This project aims to provide farmers and community members with access to vital online information to improve agricultural yields and expand market opportunities.

“I am delighted to be here this evening to witness the signing of two important projects in our digital transformation drive. The unveiling of the SMART Sierra Leone and Digital Village Projects today not only marks another milestone in our partnership with the People’s Republic of China but also underscores the priority placed on Tech and Infrastructure Development in our Big Five Agenda,” President Bio stated.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.

On the morning of September 3, 2024, President Xi Jinping met with Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Moussa Faki Mahamat, who is in China for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the African Union (AU) is a banner for Africa to seek strength through unity and an important platform for conducting international cooperation. In recent years, China and the AU have continued to deepen political mutual trust and maintained close coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs. Xi Jinping said that he is glad to see that the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, aided by China for the AU, has been established and put into operation, contributing to Africa’s health cause as well as African people’s health and well-being. China supports the AU in playing a greater role in the cause of China-Africa friendship, and is ready to take this FOCAC Summit as an opportunity to push for more outcomes of China-AU cooperation in various fields and promote the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future to a new level.

Xi Jinping stressed that the current transformations of the world unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace. The Global South, including China and Africa, is growing stronger, injecting stability and positive energy into world peace and development. Africa is an important pole in the world and an important priority in China’s diplomacy. China is ready to enhance political exchanges with Africa, deepen strategic mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation, share development experience and promote common development. Xi Jinping called on the two sides to strengthen solidarity and coordination, firmly support each other, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice and the common interests of developing countries.

Moussa Faki Mahamat said that during his eight years as AUC Chairperson, he has witnessed the rapid growth of AU-China relations. He thanked the Chinese side, especially President Xi Jinping, for his outstanding leadership in promoting the development of the Africa-China partnership and the FOCAC institutional development. For more than half a century, China has been firmly supporting Africa’s struggle against colonialism, imperialism and racial discrimination, providing valuable assistance to African countries in various fields such as infrastructure, health, energy, industry and security, and taking the lead in supporting the AU’s accession to the G20, which the African side highly appreciates and sincerely thanks. For this reason, the African side firmly pursues the one-China policy and firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests. The Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and other series of major initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping are committed to helping people of all countries share peace and development opportunities, which is crucial to strengthening solidarity and cooperation among countries in the Global South and making the global governance system fairer and more equitable. The African side expects China to continue playing a key leading role and make greater contributions to helping Africa achieve modernization and world peace and development.

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Namibia.

On the morning of September 3, 2024, President Xi Jinping met with President of Chad Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who is in China for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two heads of state announced the elevation of the China-Chad relationship to a strategic partnership.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Chad have actively carried out mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and FOCAC, and achieved fruitful results. China has been Chad’s largest trading partner and investment partner for many years in a row, and bilateral practical cooperation has improved the well-being of the two peoples. China is ready to work with Chad to uphold the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, and push for new progress in China-Chad relations.

Xi Jinping stressed that the Chinese side highly appreciates Chad’s firm support on issues concerning China’s core interests and major concerns and will, as always, support Chad in pursuing an independent development path and safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. The two sides should strengthen exchanges, expand consensus on ideas, consolidate political mutual trust and firmly support each other. Both sides should adhere to mutual benefit and win-win results and deepen practical cooperation. Chad is welcome to fully leverage the outcomes of the FOCAC Summit, deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation, enhance independent development capacity and achieve common development. China is ready to work with Chad to implement the Global Security Initiative, safeguard national security and stability, and work together as a staunch force for peace.

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno thanked the Chinese side for inviting and warmly receiving him to attend the FOCAC Beijing Summit in China, which fully reflects the friendship between Chad and China. The Chad-China cooperation based on mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results has yielded fruitful results. He thanked China for providing valuable assistance to Chad’s economic and social development. Chad is firmly committed to further deepening friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with China. Under the wise leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has witnessed rapid development and increasingly rising international standing. Chad admires China’s development achievements, appreciates a series of major ideas and initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, and is happy to see China’s continued development and growth. He believes that China’s sustained development will bring more opportunities for the development of Chad, Africa and the world, which is crucial to leading the transformations of the world unseen in a century. Noting that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno said that Chad will continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle.

During the summit, China and Chad will sign a number of bilateral cooperation documents covering such areas as the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, cooperation on human resources development, peanut and sesame export to China, and news and media.

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Namibia.

The Powers and Privileges Committee today elected Ms Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe as the Chairperson of the committee.

In accordance with Rule 212 of the National Assembly, the committee is composed of 9 members. The African National Congress is represented in the committee by Ms Weziwe Tikana-Gxotiwe, Mr Gijimani Skosana, Mr Mikateko Mahlaule and Ms Nonceba Gcaleka-Mazibuko. The Democratic Alliance is represented by Mr George Michalakis and Mr Baxolile Nodada. The uMkhonto WeSizwe Party is represented by Dr Mandlakayise Hlophe, Mr Nhlamulo Ndlela and the Economic Freedom Fighters is represented by Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi with Ms Poppy Moilola as an alternate member.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.