One finger cannot pick up a stone
Fifty-five years of resilient China-Sierra Leone friendship underpins joint modernization and win-win South-South cooperation
The year marks the 70th anniversary of Africa-China diplomatic relations, 55 years of bilateral ties between Sierra Leone and China and 10 years of their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Over the decades, ties between the two countries have been marked by remarkable resilience as they weathered global challenges. Bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, social development and multilateral affairs has delivered real benefits to the peoples of both countries and offered a meaningful model for building a community with a shared future.
Political trust has been the bedrock of Sierra Leone-China relations since 1971. The two countries have always treated each other as equals, with mutual respect and sincerity. In 2016, they elevated ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. In 2018, Sierra Leone joined the Belt and Road Initiative, opening new avenues for infrastructure, trade and people-to-people exchanges. The relationship reached a new peak in 2024, when President Julius Maada Bio visited China twice — first on a state visit in February and again in September for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit — becoming the first Sierra Leonean leader to visit China twice in a single year. This underscored the growing strategic importance of the two countries’ bilateral relations.
Sierra Leone consistently adheres to the one-China principle and regards its partnership with China as a foreign policy priority. China, on its part, has respected Sierra Leone’s right to choose its own development path. Through concrete actions, China has proved itself to be one of its most reliable and trusted partners.
The achievements of bilateral cooperation are most visible in the daily lives of Sierra Leoneans. Practical projects have become a driving force behind the country’s national development agenda.
Economic ties between the two countries are expanding rapidly. It is estimated that in 2025, bilateral trade reached $2.28 billion, a 29 percent year-on-year increase, making China the country’s largest and most stable trading partner. Across Sierra Leone, landmarks testify to this enduring friendship: The China-Sierra Leone Friendship Road and the ongoing rehabilitation of the National Stadium reflect China’s contribution to Sierra Leone’s infrastructure.
In April 2026, offshore works on the Chinese-aided industrial fishing port project officially began. Once completed, the country’s first such port will process about 20,000 metric tons of fish annually. Beyond its economic effect, the project will create jobs, enhance food security and modernize Sierra Leone’s fisheries sector.
China’s contribution to improving livelihoods extends far beyond infrastructure. Since 1973, China has sent 27 medical teams to Sierra Leone, providing lasting public health support. During the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and the COVID-19 pandemic, China was among the first to deliver emergency aid, supplies and experts, demonstrating true solidarity in times of crisis. In agriculture, Chinese experts have worked continuously for years to develop high-yield rice varieties, improve farming techniques and strengthen food security. Hundreds of scholarships and training opportunities each year have helped build the skilled workforce essential for long-term development.
A landmark development is China’s zero-tariff policy, effective May 1, for all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties. China is the first major economy to grant unilateral, comprehensive duty-free access to these African nations. For Sierra Leone, this means it can send coffee, cocoa, cashew nuts and fishery products to the world’s second-largest economy at competitive prices.
Equally important is China’s assistance in overcoming long-standing market access barriers. For years, Sierra Leone could not directly export fish to major markets because it lacked internationally recognized certification systems. Rather than imposing new obstacles, China helped it establish the inspection, quarantine and certification mechanisms required for seafood exports. Through technical assistance and institutional cooperation, China enabled Sierra Leone’s fishery products to enter the Chinese market directly. This has created jobs and income for fishermen, farmers, processors and exporters, while providing a pathway to overcome trade barriers and participate more effectively in global commerce. It is a powerful example of how a major country can support a smaller partner by building capacity rather than imposing restrictions.
As developing countries and members of the Global South, Sierra Leone and China consistently support each other on major international issues. China’s global initiatives — the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative — align closely with Africa’s priorities. Sierra Leone has joined the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative and actively participates in related cooperation.
During the 2024 FOCAC Summit, Sierra Leone became one of the first 22 African nations to sign the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development with China, reflecting its shared commitment to common prosperity and South-South cooperation. Both countries uphold multilateralism and the United Nations-centered international system, advocating for a greater voice and representation for developing countries in global governance.
China is now implementing its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and advancing Chinese modernization, while Sierra Leone is executing its Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-30), focusing on food security, human capital, youth employment, digital transformation and public sector reform. These strategic agendas offer a solid foundation for deeper cooperation.
Going forward, both countries can align their development plans more closely and expand collaboration in agricultural modernization, the digital economy, renewable energy, vocational education and public health. Full use of China’s zero-tariff policy will boost trade and investment. Greater exchanges among youth, educational institutions and cultural organizations will also strengthen the social bonds between the two countries’ future generations.
As a Sierra Leonean proverb reminds us, “One finger cannot pick up a stone”. In a world of growing uncertainty, this wisdom holds true. China and Sierra Leone need each other as partners in development and as advocates of multilateralism.
The achievements of the past 55 years show the strength and resilience of the bilateral relationship. As both nations embark on new journeys of modernization, their partnership is poised to reach even greater heights — bringing tangible benefits to their peoples and contributing to a more prosperous, peaceful and inclusive world.
Jesse Wilson is a former research and development officer at the Foreign Service Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sierra Leone, and an adjunct researcher at the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University. Li Xiaoyu is an assistant research fellow at the Department for Developing Countries Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.
The authors contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.
