Sierra Leonean president hails China-built first industrial fishing harbor as blessing

Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio hailed China as a reliable friend, saying win-win cooperation between them is not an empty talk but action with no political strings attached that turns out to be a blessing for the West African country.

Sierra Leone has started construction of its first industrial fishing port, with the help of Chinese funding, a major step in the country's drive to modernize its fisheries sector and to boost its blue economy.

Named after the president, the Julius Maada Bio Industrial Fishing Port is designed to handle 20,000 metric tons of fish annually and generate more than 60 million U.S. dollars in revenue each year.

"Fishing in Sierra Leone caters for at least 1 million people, those who are directly involved in fishing activities. Without an infrastructure like this, it makes it less profitable. So instead of putting more layers of bureaucracy, China has decided to give us a fishing harbor with all the amenities that go with it so that people who are gainfully employed in fishing can now make more profit. And again, government is going to also make more revenue from the activities. This sort of infrastructure, which is a gift from the People's Republic of China, you can't attach even value to it," Bio said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) aired on Friday.

Bio said China's support had been especially evident in difficult times.

"We have been having problems exporting directly to major capitals in the world because of a requirement, hygiene requirement to make sure that there is certification. China in our last meeting, they have given us a certification regime that allows fish from Sierra Leone to enter China. This is an example of a country trying to help others come up instead of creating that hurdle. I think it is better to help us deal with the certification process, which is what China has done. So now our fish can leave from Sierra Leone and enter markets in China, which is an access to market, this is very important for us," he said.

China on Friday expanded its zero-tariff treatment to cover all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties, creating new opportunities for Africa to boost exports and industrialization amid the global headwinds of protectionism.

Sierra Leonean president hails China-built first industrial fishing harbor as blessing

A group of Japanese peace activists gathered outside the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Friday to protest the government's push for constitutional revision and the lifting of a ban on lethal weapons exports.

The Japanese government officially revised the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology" and related implementation guidelines on April 21, allowing overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities.

Kyodo News, a Japanese news agency, said the changes mark a significant shift in the country's defense policy, noting that it has long touted itself as a "peace-loving nation" under its war-renouncing Constitution since its defeat in World War II.

The protesters accused the Takaichi administration of lifting the export ban without sufficient debate or deliberation in the National Diet.

"Without full discussions in the National Diet, the government just arbitrarily decided on arms exports and made various excuses for it. Also, regarding the incident of intrusion into the Chinese embassy, the government has not issued an apology. Japan should be on friendly terms with neighboring countries, yet it engages in actions that incite confrontation. [Constitutional revision] is truly disturbing. Especially nowadays, the Liberal Democratic Party and Prime Minister Takaichi are pushing for arms exports in order to build a nation capable of waging war. This is absolutely unacceptable," one female protester said.

"As a matter of fact, it [lifting the ban on lethal weapons exports] was arbitrarily decided by the cabinet without any consideration of people's opinions. Revising the pacifist constitution will undoubtedly harm Japan's national interests. I sincerely hope that the Takaichi administration will stop this practice," a male protester said.

"Article 9 of Japan's constitution has gradually, to some extent, been distorted by various faits accomplis. While Japan is nominally a 'peaceful country,' this is not the case in reality," another female protester said.

Protesters rally in Tokyo against arms exports, constitutional revision