Chinese Ambassador Zhao Yanbo Meets with Sierra Leonean President Koroma
On 22 September, 2014, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Yanbo met with Sierra Leonean President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, and briefed President Koroma on the new batch of anti-Ebola cash, food and material aid to Sierra Leone and other Ebola-stricken countries. Acting Foreign Minister Dr. Ebun Strasser-King, Health Minister Dr. Abubakarr Fofanah and Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy Mr. Zou Xiaoming attended the meeting.
Ambassador Zhao stated that in order to provide continuous support to help Sierra Leone and other Ebola-stricken countries fight against Ebola, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on September 18 during his visit to India that China will provide a further 200 million Yuan (equally 32.54 million USD) package of humanitarian aid including food, supplies for disease control, emergency treatment facilities and capital support to African countries and international organizations to help contain Ebola. In the package, China will provide Sierra Leone with 1 million USD in cash, food assistance valued at 2 million USD, and a mobile lab and fixed lab with testing and security equipments and 59 medical staff. China will also provide 2 million USD in cash respectively to the African Union and the World Health Organization to support their leading and coordinating role in fighting the epidemic. Ambassador Zhao informed President Koroma that the mobile bio-safety level 3 (BSL-3) lab will be airlifted to Sierra Leone on 25 September. He emphasized that China is willing to joint hands with the international community to strengthen coordination and jointly support Sierra Leone and other Ebola-stricken countries to tide over the hardship until the victory of the battle against Ebola.
In his response, President Koroma expressed his deep appreciation to the Chinese government and people for responding timely to the appeal of the Sierra Leonean government and providing speedy assistance to Sierra Leone. He stated that during the time of normalcy, China provided a lot of assistance to the socio-economic development of Sierra Leone. During the current critical time of history, China came out robustly to help Sierra Leone fight against Ebola. China’s commitment indicated that China indeed showed great care for the Sierra Leonean people, and clearly demonstrated that China is indeed a special friend of Sierra Leone. President Koroma also commended China for providing support to the African Union and WHO.
Before meeting with President Koroma, Ambassador Zhao and Acting Foreign Minister Dr. Ebun Strasser-King signed the letter of exchange on China’s assistance of 1 million USD in cash to Sierra Leone on behalf of their respective governments.
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Sierra Leone
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