Chinese premier eyes more cooperation with Sierra Leone

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 2, 2016. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

Premier Li Keqiang met with Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma on Friday, calling on both countries to enhance cooperation in infrastructure development and production capacity.

Hailing the fruitful bilateral cooperation since establishing diplomatic relations in 1971, Li said China hoped to further deepen political mutual trust, practical cooperation and coordination in international affairs with Sierra Leone.

"China is willing to tap the potential of the two countries' economic complementarity by focusing on infrastructure development cooperation, industrial production capacity cooperation as well as partnership in mining, agriculture and fishery in line with market principles," the premier said.

Li said China will also cooperate more with Sierra Leone in public health, hospitals and medical staff training and continue to send medical teams to the country.

Koroma thanked China for the aid sent to his country during the Ebola outbreak in 2014.

Sierra Leone will learn from China's experiences of development, strengthen cooperation with China in infrastructure building, mining, agriculture, telecommunication, public health and tourism, Koroma said.

Koroma is on a state visit to China from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.