On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping held meetings with officials from the International Olympics Committee (IOC), Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
International Olympics Committee (IOC)
President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with IOC President Thomas Bach in which he congratulated Bach on his re-election. Xi stressed that China is steadily carrying forward all preparations in order to host the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics 2022 on schedule. The premier further informed Bach that China has carried out test runs of snow and ice sports, and will continue to organise various test runs in the second half of the year so as to lay a firmer foundation for the games.
Bach, in return, congratulated China on taking the lead in successfully getting the pandemic under control and restoring economic growth, and appreciated its leading role in global anti-epidemic cooperation and economic recovery.
Sierra Leone
On the same day, President Xi Jinping spoke with Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio. Xi pointed out that Chinese medical teams, expert teams, anti-pandemic supplies, and vaccines have played a positive role in Sierra Leone’s pandemic prevention and control and assured his counterpart that Beijing would continue to provide support and assistance for Sierra Leone in the fight against COVID-19.
He also expressed China’s willingness to work with Sierra Leone to strengthen coordination within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and implement the outcomes of the Beijing 2018 Summit of the FOCAC, which pledged to further China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in Africa and deepen Beijing’s relationship with the African Union (AU).
Bio, in turn, thanked China for its assistance for Sierra Leone’s economic and social development and fight against the pandemic and reiterated that his country stands ready to strengthen cooperation in areas such as education, health, and food security, and advance cooperation within the framework of the FOCAC.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
President Xi Jinping also spoke with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi on Friday, wherein he emphasised China’s willingness to strengthen practical cooperation with the DRC in such areas as economy, trade, infrastructure, health, agriculture, and culture. He also said that both countries must deepen cooperation in the fields of construction of free trade zones, public health, peace, and security, as well as climate change. In addition, he affirmed China’s support in implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Tshisekedi responded by confirming the DRC’s willingness to deepen cooperation with Beijing in areas such as economy, trade, resources, and infrastructure. The minister also thanked China for providing supplies, vaccines, and other assistance for African countries in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chinese Diplomacy Round-Up: President Xi Jinping (May 07-14, 2021)
This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping held meetings with officials from the IOC, DR Congo, and SierraLeone.
May 14, 2021
SOURCE: XINHUA/JU PENG