By Amadou Jadama
The Chinese ambassador to The Gambia, Liu Jin, has pledged that China will help The Gambia overcome its current power shortage, announcing a new Chinese grant of 91 million RMB for the Greater Banjul Area Electricity Enhancement Project.
Ambassador Liu made the revelation on Monday during a grand reception organised by the Chinese Embassy in Banjul to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, on 1 October.
The colourful ceremony, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, attracted senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and friends of China.
According to Ambassador Liu, China-Gambia cooperation has delivered tangible results for the people of both countries over the last decade.
He noted that the China-aided International Conference Centre is now serving as a platform for The Gambia to speak to the world, adding that the road and bridges in the Upper River Region now connect the north and south, reaching the “last mile” of inland transport.
Ambassador Liu further revealed that Chinese medical teams and agricultural experts are trying their best to improve local people’s lives,
Returning to the pressing issue of electricity, Ambassador Liu expressed deep empathy for Gambians.
“Right now, The Gambia is facing power cuts. We truly understand what you are going through, and we are ready to lend a hand to help The Gambia overcome this difficulty as soon as possible. Therefore, the Greater Banjul Area Electricity Enhancement project, financed by Chinese grant of 91 Million Chinese RMB, was signed just recently,” he announced.
He stressed that, like the Conference Centre and the URR roads and bridges project, the electricity project stands as a symbol of China-Gambia partnership.
The ambassador highlighted that this year is the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges under which the Embassy invited over 1,000 Gambian friends from all walks of life to visit China, covering government officials, civil society and the private sector, in fields such as social development and governance, youth and female empowerment, and technical training.
“As we visit each other often as one family, we understand, trust and appreciate each other more. Nearly 400 Gambian students have studied in China under the Chinese Government Scholarships. Another several hundreds of Gambian students have received our embassy’s funding to complete studies at home,” he said.
He added:”Our Embassy has been offering visa services for nearly a year now, fully demonstrating the strong momentum of people-to-people friendship between our two countries.”
Ambassador Liu then announced he has come to the end of his tour of duty and would soon be leaving The Gambia
“Tonight, for me personally, I am filled with joy, and also with mixed feelings. After four years as Chinese ambassador to The Gambia, I am about to say goodbye to the warm and friendly Smiling Coast. It has been a great honour to take part in the China-Gambia friendship over the first decade since the resumption of the diplomatic relations,” he said with deep emotions.
The Gambia government was represented by Digital Economy Minister Lamin Jabbi who extended the Gambia government’s gratitude to China and spoke about the excellent relations between the two countries.