1. Political Relations

The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations on July 29, 1971. Bilateral relations between the two countries have ever since achieved a smooth development.

Major visits to Sierra Leone paid by Chinese leaders and senior officials are as follows: Vice Chairman Ji Pengfei of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (December 1978), Vice Premier Tian Jiyun (November 1984), Vice Chairman Liao Hansheng of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (November 1985), Deputy Foreign Minister Tian Zengpei (1994), Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Zhang Xiang (2001), Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Lu Guozeng (November 2003 and October 2005).

Major visits to China paid by Sierra Leonean leaders include: President Siaka Stevens (November 1973, April-May 1981 and March 1985), William N. S. Conteh, Speaker of the Parliament (October 1984 and November 1987), President Joseph Saidu Momoh (February 1986 and July 1990), Vice President Salia Jusu Sheriff (October 1989), Mohamed Lamin Kamara, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (February 1993), Valentine E. Melvin Strasser, Chairman of the National Provisional Ruling Council (October 1994), Vice President Albert J. E. Demby (October-November 1996), Sama Banya, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (October-November 1998), President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (May-June 1999), Sheku M. F. Kutubu, Speaker of the Parliament (August 1999) and Momodu Koroma, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (August 2003).

2. Trade Relations and Economic and Technical Cooperation

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has helped Sierra Leone to complete numerous projects, such as station for popularizing rice-cultivation techniques, road bridges, National Stadium, sugar complex, office building, hydropower station, power transmission and substation projects, civil housing.

Sino-Sierra Leone cooperation of mutual benefit started from 1984. Since 1985, Sino-Sierra Leone joint ventures and China-funded ventures have started their business in Sierra Leone. In 1992, the overseas fishery company of China National Fishery Corporation took over the fishing project set up in 1985 by the investment of Fujian-Africa Fishing Company of China. Based on a lease contract, Beijing Urban Construction Group had completed the rehabilitation of Bintumani Hotel which started operating in 2003. In 2003, China National Complete Plant Import & Export Corporation (Group) singed a contract on the project of Magbass Sugar Complex which has begun producing sugar and alcohol since 2005. In April 2005, the Industrial and Trade zone project invested by the Henan Goji Industry and Development Company of China officially opened for business.

In July 1971, the Chinese Government signed a trade and payment agreement with the Sierra Leonean Government. In September 1989, the two Governments signed a trade agreement. China's main exports to Sierra Leone are mechanical and electrical products, textiles and other light industrial goods, cultural and educational materials, hardware, articles for daily use, etc. China's main imports from Sierra Leone are coffee and cacao beans. The trade volume between the two countries reached a historic record of US$ 29.86 million in 2004, among which China's export volume totaled US$28.26 million.

3. Exchanges and Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Education and Health

China and Sierra Leone signed a cultural agreement in April 1981 and since then the cultural delegations from the two countries have exchanged several visits.

China began to accept Sierra Leonean students from 1976. Up to 2005, China has received altogether 181 students from Sierra Leone. In 1976, China sent 8 students to study English in the Fourah Bay College of Sierra Leone.

Since March 1973, China has sent 12 groups of medical team to Sierra Leone with a total number of around 170 person times. The latest group has 10 members.

In March 1984, Hefei, the capital city of East China's Anhui Province, established a sister-city relationship with Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.