The bilateral trade between China and Sierra Leone reached 2.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, nearly 30 percent higher than in 2024, according to Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Zhao Yong.
During the embassy’s media open day on Thursday in the capital Freetown, Zhao noted that Sierra Leone’s exports to China increased by more than 40 percent during the same period, while bilateral trade rose by nearly 38 percent in the first half of 2026.
The ambassador attributed the growth partly to China’s zero-tariff treatment for Sierra Leonean products, noting that discussions are underway to expand exports to China to include palm oil, coffee and cocoa.
Zhao said that over the 55 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Sierra Leone have respected and supported each other, with bilateral friendship growing stronger and mutually beneficial cooperation yielding fruitful results.
He also noted that more than 6,000 Sierra Leoneans visited China in 2025, a record figure, while measures had been introduced to facilitate travel, visa applications and payment services for visitors.
The event brought together representatives of more than 20 leading Sierra Leonean media organizations to promote mutual understanding and strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Zhao called on Sierra Leonean journalists to become witnesses to the real China, communicators of friendship between the two peoples, and defenders of China-Sierra Leone friendship.
He encouraged journalists to uphold professional standards, objective reporting and vigilance against misinformation when covering bilateral relations.
Zhao expressed appreciation to Sierra Leonean media institutions for their contribution to promoting understanding between the two countries and called for greater reporting on practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
