New Chinese Ambassador Arrives in Freetown
Aminata Koroma The newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E. Zhao Yong, has arrived in Freetown to formally assume his diplomatic duties.
Ambassador Zhao was received at the airport by Mr. Umaru Conteh, Acting Director of the Department of Asian and Middle East Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, who represented the Government of Sierra Leone. Also present were Minister Counsellor Mr. Zhang Dianbin and other senior diplomats from the Chinese Embassy.
Speaking upon his arrival, Ambassador Zhao said he was honoured to be appointed as the 18th Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone. He noted that political trust between the two countries has continued to deepen in recent years under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Julius Maada Bio.
He added that cooperation across various sectors has produced positive outcomes, international collaboration has strengthened, and people-to-people exchanges have continued to grow, keeping bilateral relations at a high level.
Ambassador Zhao further highlighted that 2026 will mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone, expressing optimism about working closely with partners in Sierra Leone to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
Welcoming the Ambassador, Mr. Conteh reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening ties with China, stating that the government highly values its long-standing friendship with China and remains committed to achieving new milestones in bilateral cooperation.