Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Ghana Pays a Courtesy Call on Ghana’s Trade Minister
The Economic and commercial counsellor of the Chinese Embassy
in Ghana, Mr. Li Yaohong and his team paid a courtesy call on the Minister for
Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu- Adjare at the Ministry
in Accra.
The
counsellor took the opportunity to congratulate the hon. minister for her appointment
to the ministry and expressed China’s preparedness to continue to strengthen
economic ties between the two countries.
During the
meeting, the Minister and the Counsellor discussed issues which underscored
the shared commitment of both countries in relation to bilateral trade, investment cooperation,
financing cooperation, development assistance cooperation and human resources
capacity building.
Mr. Li
Yaohong revealed an extensive roadmap to
bolster its cooperation with Africa over the next three years through the Forum
on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and outlines ten (10) modernization
initiative partnership progframmes aimed at driving Africa’s development and
deepening the China-Africa relationship.
He said the 10 partnership action plans also focused on
industrial cooperation, enhancing digital technology and implementing
connectivity projects like infrastructure development to support the Africa
Continental Free Trade Area, adding that the action plans will be achieved
through cooperation in governance, experience-sharing platforms, knowledge
networks and leadership training programmes.
The Minister expressed her gratitude for the Counsellor’s visit and
reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with
international partners. She emphasized the importance of the bilateral
ties between the two nations which extend beyond trading in goods and services.
She added that China has emerged as one
of Ghana's largest trading partners and a prominent source of foreign direct
investment (FDI) and the largest import country for Ghana.
In appreciating the biliteral corporation
between Ghana and China, the Minister calls on the Chinese government to also
consider investment in commercial farming in Ghana and also support the Government’s
apprentiship program which forms part Ghana’s Industrialization agenda in
creating jobs and employment for the youth.
She
spoke about trade facilitation concerns in areas such as bureaucratic and
regulatory challenges from the Chinese Customs Division and asked the Chinese government
to consider Mutual Recognition Agreement between Ghana and China to enable
Ghanaian MSMEs penetrate the Chinese market seamlessly.
“We
look forward to more investments into Ghana’s manufacturing sector for the
realization of its full potential as a regional hub,” She concluded.
END
