President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday granted an audience to the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Tong Defa, commending him for strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and China during his tenure.
“You haven’t just been an ambassador or diplomat; you have been a friend, and I’m sad to see you go. Of course, our relations with China are excellent,” the President remarked.
President Mahama also expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for China’s role in negotiating Ghana’s debt restructuring and for providing substantial support for the country’s development.
He cited a US$30 million grant for the Aflao Market Project and another US$30 million allocated for the construction of a new Science and Technology University in Damango.
“We want to see greater cooperation with China in logistics, training in anti-terrorism, and building border surveillance to ensure there is no infiltration in these areas,” he added.
The President further proposed the establishment of a payment and settlement system between the two countries to facilitate trade and financial transactions.
Ambassador Tong congratulated President Mahama on the successes recorded in the first year of his tenure, particularly in improving Ghana’s economic fortunes.
He called for stronger cooperation between Ghana and China in industry, trade, mining, and science and technology.
The outgoing envoy also disclosed that China’s zero-tariff arrangement for Ghana’s exports would soon be operationalised.
He further appealed to President Mahama to support China’s bid to host the Secretariat of the new United Nations treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction.
Source: myxyzonline.com
