China’s Foreign Minister to Visit Sierra Leone

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi

According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman, the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will pay official visits to five African nations and Saudi Arabia from Jan. 5 to 14 next year. The five countries include Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Algeria and Morocco, announced Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu here Thursday at a regular press conference. Foreign Minister Yang would pay the visit at the invitation of his counterparts from the above six nations in all, namely Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs Moses Wetangula, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ojo Maduekwe, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Zainab Hawa Bangura, Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Taieb Fassi Fihri, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.

During his visit to Sierra Leone, the Foreign Minister will hold talks with government officials including the President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, the Vice President Sam Sumana and Foreign Minister Madam Zainab Hawa Bangura. China has emerged as an important player in the economic politics of African countries. China’s increasing raw material needs means it has to forge ties with new markets in Africa especially emerging powerhouses like Sierra Leone. A vast amount of oil has recently been found along the shores of Sierra Leone and China is keen to strike deals with the Koroma administration to ensure it has a big stake in the soon to start drilling process. China is also interested in Sierra Leone’s Iron Ore and Bauxite as the country is a leading producer in both minerals. China has contributed immensely to Sierra Leone’s infrastructural development.

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