Her Worship the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, on Thursday engaged in high-level discussions with Zheng Hong, Vice Chairperson of the Anhui Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The meeting, held on 4 December 2025, focused on revitalizing and expanding the long-standing cooperation between Freetown and Hefei, the capital of China’s Anhui Province.

Freetown and Hefei have maintained a sister-city relationship since 1984. Thursday’s engagement provided an opportunity for both cities to renew this historic bond and explore new avenues for collaboration.

During the meeting, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr and Zheng Hong highlighted the strengths and potential of their respective cities. They reaffirmed their commitment to advancing cooperation in key areas, particularly trade promotion, cultural exchange, and socio-economic development.

Both leaders expressed optimism that a strengthened Freetown–Hefei partnership will deliver tangible benefits to citizens of both cities and further deepen bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and China.