His Excellency Tong Defa, the departing Chinese ambassador to Ghana, was given an audience by President John Dramani Mahama today. The president praised Mr. Tong for improving Ghana-China relations while he was in office.
“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 said.
Additionally, Mr. Mahama expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for his nation’s participation in the debt restructuring negotiations and for his substantial assistance with Ghana’s development. He mentioned a $30 million grant for the Aflao Market Project and an additional $30 million set aside for the building of a new Science and Technology University in Damango.
“We want to see a greater cooperation with China in terms of logistics, in terms of training to move on anti-terrorism, in terms of building surveillance of our borders to make sure that we don’t have any infiltration of these areas”, he added.
A mechanism of payment and settlement between the two nations was proposed by President Mahama.
Ambassador Tong complimented President Mahama on his accomplishments during the first year in office, particularly in improving Ghana’s economic situation. He advocated for more industry, trade, mining, and research and technology cooperation between the two nations.
Ambassador Tong announced that Ghana’s exports would soon be subject to a zero-tariff agreement with China. He urged President Mahama to back China’s proposal to host the Secretariat of the new UN Convention on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction in Ghana.
Source: newsthemegh.com