In a joint statement, the Sierra Leone China Friendship Society, Sierra Leone China Friendship Association (SilCHA), Sierra Leone China Foundation and Sino-Sierra Leone Alumni Association (SISLAA) pointed out that they were shocked, after going through a recent Commentary published by the Awoko Newspaper, with the title “Has Xi Jinping Lost the Plot?” The said Commentary was authored by one Joseph Amara in which he made vicious attacks on H.E. the Chinese President, Xi Jinping.
According to the aforementioned organizations they strongly condemn the writer of the above-mentioned article furthering that they are also seriously concerned and disappointed with the Awoko Newspaper for giving the platform for such one-sided, ignorant, malicious and provocative attacks against the great leader of one of Sierra Leone’s and Africa’s true and trusted partners.
It was additionally underscored that as is known by all, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Xi Jinping at its core, China has made great achievements, lifting over 700 million Chinese people out of poverty in the past few decades, contributing more than 70% to global poverty reduction.
Further pointed out was that last year, although continuing to face the COVID-19 pandemic, China’s economy maintained rapid recovery and development, with its GDP reaching 17.7 trillion US dollars, an increase of 8.1% and accounting for 18% of the world’s total.
“We have full confidence in China’s continually stable economic development,” part of the joint statement reads.
Also heighted was that all the achievements would not be possible without China’s unique democratic system: the whole-process people’s democracy.
Stated also was that under the leadership of CPC with Xi Jinping at the core, the Party’s overall leadership has been strengthened, the country’s governance system and capacity have been more modernized, the Chinese people’s principal position in political and social life is further consolidated.
“The Chinese people’s democratic rights and freedom have been further enhanced and are better than in those countries that preach democracy and human rights,” it was also maintained.
Mentioned was that as Sierra Leone-China friendship organizations and the ones that know China much better than many others, they fully understand China’s dynamic zero-COVID policy which is aimed at bringing COVID-19 under control at the minimum social cost in the shortest time possible so as to effectively protect the health, normal life and production of the 1.4 billion Chinese people to the maximum.
It was stated that such a strategy has been proven to be very successful and is suitable to China’s situation.
“China has been helping Africa especially Sierra Leone sincerely and significantly in various ways and sectors,” the benefits of the bi-lateral ties were referred to in addition to mentioning that China’s leader deserves utmost respect and appreciation, rather than being viciously attacked and cursed with emphasis placed on how the Awoko Newspaper should not have been part of the ill-intentioned campaign by the West to smear China and her leader.
“We believe that our Sierra Leonean brothers and sisters will not be misled and perturbed by such nonsense as unleashed by that Joseph Amara,” the organizations that released the joint statement maintained.