The Chinese Deputy Ambassador & The Vice President of The Gambia
By Fatou Sillah
The Chinese Embassy in The Gambia celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China with a grand reception at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo.
The event was graced by the Vice President of The Gambia, Cabinet Ministers, Governors, National Assembly Members, Ambassadors and Heads of Missions, as well as other distinguished guests. Attendees were also treated to a performance by the Gambia Kungfu Association, showcasing Chinese martial arts.
In his remarks at the ceremony, the Deputy Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to The Gambia highlighted China’s path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which he said has been tailored to the country’s unique circumstances.
“China has secured the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics that suit national conditions. In a short span of several decades, China has completed industrialization that took developed countries several centuries. Through this historic course, China has achieved two miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability. The successful advancement of Chinese modernization has created a new form of human advancement, which encourages other developing countries to explore their own paths of development.
“China puts the people first in pursuing development. China completed the arduous task of eradicating absolute poverty in 2021, realizing the poverty reduction target of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. China has established the world’s largest system of education, social security and medical care and continues to improve the ecological environment,” he said.
He further emphasized China’s commitment to peaceful development and its role as a force for global peace, stability, and prosperity.
“China commits to peaceful development and stands as a staunch force for peace, stability, development and prosperity in the world. The vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind points out the right direction for human society and leads a path towards lasting peace, security, and common development.
“China is committed to promote high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and will open its commodity, service, capital, and labor markets to the outside world in an orderly manner and unilaterally further open its markets to the world’s least developed countries,” he said.
Reflecting on the longstanding relationship between China and The Gambia, the Deputy Ambassador said the two countries are currently advancing the Power Enhancement Project in the Greater Banjul Area to address the region’s aging grid infrastructure and overloading issues.
“China-Gambia relations have a long history and good tradition. Fifty years ago, with their wisdom and courage, the visionary leaders of both countries forged a strong China-Gambia friendship. The Chinese government and people firmly supported The Gambia’s struggle for independence and autonomy. The Gambian government and people firmly supported China on the world stage. The National Independence Stadium, “China Rice,” and the Chinese medical team left touching memories among the people of both countries and remain an inexhaustible treasure of China-Gambia relations.
“Under the strategic guidance of H.E. President Xi and H.E. President Adama Barrow, political trust between the two countries has deepened continuously, cooperation in various areas has flourished, and people-to-people exchanges have strengthened, yielding fruitful results,” he said.
He added, “The venue for today’s reception, the SDKJ International Conference Center built with Chinese assistance, played a key role in The Gambia’s successful hosting of the 15th Islamic Cooperation Organization Summit in May this year. It has become a new landmark on the Smiling Coast and serves as an enduring legacy contributing to the country’s development,” he said.
The Vice President of The Gambia, Muhammed B. S. Jallow, expressed appreciation for China’s unwavering support since the re-establishment of diplomatic ties, noting that their partnership is based on mutual respect and a shared vision for progress.
“Since the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and The Gambia, our partnership has flourished, grounded in mutual respect, shared interests, and a common vision for progress. China has been an unwavering ally in our development journey, providing critical support across various sectors. As we celebrate China’s 75th anniversary, we also celebrate the bonds of friendship and cooperation that have brought immense benefits to The Gambia,” he stated.