Chinese Embassy in Banjul Celebrates 76th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China
H.E. Liu Jin, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China
By Fatou Sillah
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in The Gambia on Tuesday hosted a diplomatic reception at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Founded in 1949 following years of internal struggle and foreign aggression, the People’s Republic of China embarked on a new era under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, prioritizing national unity, modernization, and the building of a strong, independent state.
In his keynote address, Chinese Ambassador to The Gambia, Liu Jin, reflected on China’s remarkable transformation, particularly during the last four decades of reform and opening up. He noted that nearly 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty, while China has established the world’s largest education, healthcare, and social security systems—vastly improving the well-being of its citizens.
Ambassador Liu emphasized that China’s success not only represents national progress but also contributes to global peace and economic growth. He highlighted that China’s economy has maintained steady expansion, accounting for about 30 percent of global growth in recent years.
Citing advancements in fields such as 5G and artificial intelligence, the envoy underscored China’s role as one of the world’s leading trading nations and its efforts to share innovation, foster international cooperation, and promote sustainable development.
“China has been committed to green development and has contributed half of the world’s newly installed capacity of renewable energy and a quarter of the new greening area. China has also advanced high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with over 150 countries. China has the confidence and capability to keep its economy on an upward trajectory and continue to provide important support for global economic growth,” he said.
Turning to China–Africa relations, Ambassador Liu described the partnership as the “backbone of the Global South,” noting that together, China and Africa represent a population of 2.8 billion people. He stressed the importance of solidarity and collaboration in shaping a fairer global order.
On bilateral relations, Ambassador Liu reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening ties with The Gambia, announcing that the Chinese Embassy in Banjul will begin offering consular visa services on October 7. He also revealed that 2026 will be designated the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, with the Embassy pledging to promote further cultural and social linkages.
“Next year is the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Our embassy will try its best to continue to promote people-to-people exchanges. With this background, I am very pleased to announce that the Chinese Embassy in The Gambia will officially launch consular visa services on October 7,” he said.
Representing the Government of The Gambia, Interior Minister Abdoulie Sanyang commended China’s remarkable achievements in economic and social development. He reaffirmed The Gambia’s adherence to the One-China Principle and expressed Banjul’s readiness to deepen practical cooperation with Beijing across multiple sectors.