Joint Statement Of The People's Republic Of China And The Republic Of Sierra Leone On Deepening The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (Full Text)

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China, Julius Mada Bio, President and Head of State of the Republic of Sierra Leone, will pay a state visit to the People's Republic of China from February 27 to March 2, 2024.

During the visit, the two heads of state held talks in a friendly and friendly atmosphere, exchanging in-depth views on China Serbia, China Africa relations, as well as international and regional issues of common concern, and reached extensive and important consensus. Premier Li Qiang of the State Council of the People's Republic of China and Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress respectively met with President Obama.

1、 Both sides agree that over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Serbia, the traditional friendship between the two countries has been strengthened, political mutual trust has continued to strengthen, practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results, close cooperation in international affairs has greatly benefited the two countries and their peoples, and has become a model of new international relations.

The two sides spoke highly of the new progress in bilateral relations since President Biot's state visit to China in 2018, especially in the face of the severe challenges of the COVID-19. The Chinese and Cypriot people stood by and helped each other to fight the epidemic side by side, demonstrating once again the profound friendship of sharing weal and woe.

3、 Both sides reiterated their firm support for each other to independently choose a development path that is in line with their own national conditions, and will strengthen exchanges in governance and mutual learning of experiences. The Serbian side highly appreciates that under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have achieved great changes with Chinese path to modernization, and believes that Chinese path to modernization has provided path choices and practical solutions for the independent development of developing countries.

The Chinese side believes that under the leadership of President Bio, Sierra Leone will achieve significant development in all the goals set out in its 2024-2030 medium-term national development plan, and new achievements will be made in national construction.

4、 Both sides emphasize that mutual support on issues related to each other's core interests is the core essence of China Serbia relations. China reiterates its firm support for Serbia to safeguard national independence, sovereignty, security, and development interests, and firmly opposes external interference in Serbia's internal affairs. The Serbian side reiterates its firm adherence to the One China principle, believing that the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory; We firmly support China's position on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet.

5、 Both sides agree to further play the leading role of the head of state in diplomacy, and to closely communicate and cooperate with various departments and levels of the central and local governments, legislative bodies, political parties, etc. of the two countries.

6、 The two sides agreed to work together to deepen high-quality cooperation on the "the Belt and Road". China appreciates the Serbian side's participation in and active participation in the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" cooperation in 2018, and the Serbian side highly appreciates the positive role played by the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" initiative in promoting the economic development and improving people's livelihood of the joint construction country over the past decade. The two sides signed a cooperation plan on jointly promoting the construction of the "the Belt and Road", and decided to adhere to the principle of mutual consultation, construction and sharing, adhere to the concept of openness, green and integrity, strive to achieve high standards, benefit people's livelihood and sustainable goals, strengthen the docking of the development strategies of the two countries, and actively promote cooperation in various fields based on their comparative advantages and development needs under the guidance of the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit and win-win results, Strive to achieve more practical results.

7、 China appreciates Serbia's membership in the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative and supports its inclusion in the list of beneficiaries of the Global Development Initiative. Serbia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China on the implementation of global development initiatives, global security initiatives, and global civilization initiatives at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

8、 Both sides agree to further expand trade and investment cooperation. China will invite Serbia to continue participating in the China International Import Expo and actively support more Serbia products to enter the Chinese market. China will encourage more enterprises to invest and develop in Serbia, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture, mining, fisheries, vocational and technical education, and related infrastructure construction, support Serbia's industrialization construction, and provide convenience for Serbia to hold investment promotion activities in China. The Serbian side will further improve the business environment and provide favorable conditions for Chinese enterprises to operate in Serbia.

9、 Both sides highly evaluate the achievements of cooperation between the two countries in areas such as culture, tourism, education, youth, think tanks, media, sports, public health, and epidemic prevention and control. They agree to further expand cultural exchanges, deepen civil friendship, and consolidate the foundation of friendship. Both sides will promote stronger exchanges between scholars and media. China will strengthen cooperation with Serbia in the field of human resources and continue to dispatch medical teams to Serbia. The Serbian side thanked the Chinese side for its long-term support to the health sector in Serbia, especially during the Ebola epidemic and the COVID-19 epidemic.

10、 Both sides agree to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of peace and security, close high-level exchanges between the military and police of the two countries, and strengthen cooperation in personnel training, equipment technology, prevention of terrorist attacks, joint exercises and training, and combating transnational crime.

11、 Both sides unanimously believe that we must adhere to the principle of equality for all countries, oppose hegemonism and power politics, promote an equal and orderly world multipolarity, and create inclusive economic globalization. Both China and Serbia are developing countries with broad common interests and similar positions in international affairs. They will support each other in international affairs, defend the international system with the United Nations as the core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, maintain international solidarity and cooperation, adhere to true multilateralism, and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. Promote the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom for all mankind, and oppose interference in the internal affairs of other countries under the banner of "democratic human rights". China once again congratulates Serbia on its appointment as a non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council from 2024 to 2025, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with Serbia to jointly safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

12、 Both sides reiterated their support for the authority of the United Nations and agreed that UN Security Council reform should support developing countries, including Africa, to play a greater role, expand their representation and voice in the Security Council, and correct the historical injustices suffered by Africa. The Chinese side actively evaluates the important role played by Serbia as the President of the Ten Heads of State Committee for the Reform of the African Union Security Council, and is willing to continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Serbia. The Serbian side reiterates that the African Union's common position based on the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration is the only feasible option to correct the historical injustices experienced by Africa.

13、 Both sides highly value the important role of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation in promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Africa. They agree to strengthen consultations and coordination on the affairs of the Forum, and jointly implement practical cooperation in various fields within the framework of the Dakar Action Plan (2022-2024). Both sides look forward to the new session of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation providing strong impetus for the continued development of China Africa relations.

14、 Both sides agree that during President Bio's visit to China, China and Serbia reached extensive and important consensus, signed a series of cooperation agreements, and achieved complete success. This visit, more than 50 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, has opened a new era for consolidating bilateral relations and promoting diversified development of cooperation, and is of great significance for deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Serbia.

15、 President Bio expressed sincere gratitude to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government and people for their warm and friendly reception to him and the Serbian delegation during their visit.