Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio has lauded the achievements of high-level diplomacy in building a China-Africa community with a shared future, highlighting recent efforts to give African countries greater access to China's "great market".
In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) that was aired on Friday, Bio said that China's new zero-tariff policy for African countries illustrates the country's longstanding approach: always considering the common interests of its friends when pursuing its development path.
China on Friday began implementing an expanded zero-tariff treatment on imports from all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, a landmark move seen as promoting openness and cooperation for the Global South amid rising protectionism and fragmentation in the global economy.
The zero tariffs are also expected to help drive the diversification of African export products, increase their added value and optimize export structures, which will benefit farmers as well as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, support job creation, and boost people's livelihoods. "China is a great market. China has made sure that products from friends of China could enter that market at zero cost, zero tariff. It is this sort of relationship wherein you give us access to a market of that magnitude, provided all the other criteria are met. So we are looking at a China that can grow with its friends. They are not mutually exclusive. You can grow and still carry your friends along with you, and that is where the world will become a more peaceful place," said Bio.
During the interview, Bio also recalled his past conversations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting Xi's insightful views on how developing countries might achieve rapid prosperity. One particular conversation occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"At a time when we were all isolated, everybody was thinking about their own countries. Of course, we had COVID in China at the time, but he still had time to think about a small population, less than one of the cities in China by far. For me, we need this sort of engagement at the highest level for us to genuinely deep dive into our problems. Sharing a table with him at dinner, he (Chinese President Xi Jinping) told me, the best way to a successful agrarian revolution is a highway, meaning, stressing the importance of infrastructure, and I have come to realize that you cannot embark on agriculture at scale without paying serious attention, investing in infrastructure. So, that sort of experience sharing only takes place at that level," said Bio.
Sierra Leonean president lauds China's earnest efforts in common development
