SLPP-NYGC Secretary & Deputy Executive Director Of NPAA Excel In China-Africa Young Leaders Forum

STATEMENTS MADE BY MR DWIGHT Z.K. SHERIFF at the summit in China.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, comrades and friends, please allow me to stand on existing protocols.
I covey special greetings from the Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party National Young Generation Council and His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius Maada Bio. “Ni men Hao”.
This forum has been very educative to all participants, and we are truly grateful to the organizers of this forum with the theme “New type of Industrialization.”
We have learnt of the experience of China, and this great country has seen massive progress in terms of social and economic, political, and cultural development. As young leaders from other developing countries, we are inspired by China’s progress, and we are willing to learn from them on the following theme: UNDERSTANDING OF URBANIZATION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION
We have learnt how China has grown from being underdeveloped to becoming the greatest producers of technological products and essential goods.
This is possible because China has prioritized urbanization and industrialization. As a developing country like mine and by extension the African continent, we will emulate a good example from China.
Also, China’s role in Africa’s urbanization and industrialization and perception of the initiative on supporting African’s Industrialization proposed by President Xi Jinping.
China has been a significant player in supporting Africa’s development and is also African’s largest trading partner. To Sierra Leone, China is a reliable and dependable ally.
When the Ebola Virus outbreak struck my country Sierra Leone, China was the First country to send a flight of medical assistance and later sent Chinese medical experts to help us fight the Ebola virus, a friend in need is a friend in deed, and China has always been that friend.
However, in terms of infrastructural development in Sierra Leone and the continent, Chinese companies constructed and are still constructing roads , hospitals ,stadiums, administrative buildings, etc, to better the lives of their friends and this has helped a lot in the urbanization of my country, and I believe similar contributions are also happening in other African countries.
Finally, my suggestion for China-Africa Cooperation in the field of industrialization and urbanization is for an increase in the setting up of industries that will help in the processing of minerals and other products in Africa.
For example, my country is one of the largest producers of Iron ore, the government of my country and China have agreed to set up a factory to produce iron rods in my country, this will strengthen our economy and eventually improve on the industrialization of Sierra Leone and Africa.
Also, I suggest that our good and dependable friend, China, make it a point of duty of training African workers to improve on their skills in production of these industrial products.
Second, to continue to make concerted efforts with African people and political parties in deepening exchange.
To continue to build solidarity, pursue growth, promote peace, and advance civilization.
Furthermore, create a favourable environment for both sides to achieve their own development vision
I am concluding my statement with a quote from the Chinese teacher and philosopher Confucius “Acquire new knowledge whilst thinking over the old, and you may become a teacher of others”.
Africa is willing to acquire knowledge from China so that we can also teach others.
Thank you, everyone – “Xie-Xie”.