We Are One: When China Meets Africa

China Focus: What are?your impressions about China?

Solomon A. J. Jamiru Esq.： I’m from Sierra Leone. It’s a country in West Africa, with approximately 7 million people. China is an economic power, and an economic and technological giant. China and Africa seem to have a shared destiny. Their histories seem to be rooted in a common and shared social- cultural context. So, the fact China is able to relate more with Africa is something we celebrate. My key message to China is, thank you for standing by Africa, and thank you for standing by my country Sierra Leone because Sierra Leone?has gone through a lot of difficulties and China has always been there with us. China has been always been in a position to stand in solidarity with my country. Please continue to connect to Africa, please continue the wonderful development projects you are doing, the wonderful cultural exchanges and, the wonderful media exchanges. What I have seen here is that your media and all their efforts have succeeded in rebranding China. Come to Being in China now, I have a lot of things to learn and take back home. As my president recognizes, China as a key nation can add value to Sierra Leone.

China Focus:Do people in Sierra Leone know much about China? How is the Chinese culture they accepted?

Solomon A. J. Jamiru Esq.,：Wonderful! A lot of people know about China. They know about Kung fu and Jackie Chen.?They know about Bruce Lee. We have a documentary program called Joining to the West. It’s a documentary. You see a lot of Chinese fames. People are starting to learn Chinese. You have a lot of Sierra Leoneans?who come to China to study in different disciplines, in like science and technology, in medicine, in media and so on. And in the course of their studies, they have learnt how to speak Chinese. The tie between China and Sierra Leone is very strong, you know. It goes back to ages. It is strong and evolving. When we have had the Ebola crisis, China stood by us. When we had war, China stood by us. China is standing with us?in social and, cultural exchanges, in medicine, and in information technology. So I would like to use this opportunity, on behalf of our President Julius Maada Bio and the great people of Sierra Leone to say: 謝謝！謝謝 (Thank you! Thank you) to the Chinese people.”

China Focus: Some of Western media are accusing China for of trying to influence Africa. Do you have any comments on this?.

Solomon A. J. Jamiru Esq.,：Well, I think, influence to me?has a very relative meaning. Anyone would like to influence other people. Any country would like to have its influence in the world. So, when we talk about influence, it is not a crime. China has helped about 10,100 villages in Africa to get receive access to the a digital platform. So, if you look at the that kind of influence like that, there is no country that can refuse it. And I don’t see any country who refuses China, because China’s influence is positive. I would like to take this opportunity to say Sierra Leone is always looking forward to cooperating with China in every aspect. Of course, we have some key priorities. And I am sure, very soon, my president will discourse speak with your president. And hopefully, in September this year, my president will be in China to look at some broad development views of development.

Interviewer: Zhong Lei, Cheng Yao

Editors: Elena, Liana