President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Bio have left Freetown to participate in the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.
The invitation came from Chinese President Xi Jinping, as China hosts what it calls its largest diplomatic event since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since its launch in 2000, FOCAC has served as a critical platform for enhancing China-Africa relations, fostering economic cooperation, and strengthening political ties.
This week, Beijing is rolling out the red carpet for over a dozen African leaders and delegations, underscoring China’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the resource-rich continent.
China has invested billions in Africa, funding major infrastructure and development projects through massive loans, while drawing on Africa’s vast resources such as copper, gold, lithium, and rare earth minerals. However, these investments have sparked controversy, with concerns over the mounting debt burdens on African nations.
As the world’s second-largest economy, China is Africa’s top trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $167.8 billion in the first half of this year, according to Chinese state media.
Security in Beijing has been heightened, with streets adorned with banners celebrating China and Africa “joining hands for a brighter future.”
