On the afternoon of May 25, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with his Sierra Leone counterpart Ernest Bai Koroma at the Great Hall of the People. Both sides agreed to carry forward the traditional friendship, strengthen pragmatic cooperation and push the bilateral friendly and cooperative ties to a new height.

On behalf of the Chinese people, Hu congratulated the Sierra Leone and African people on the 46th anniversary of Africa Day, an important festival for the African people.

Calling the two countries "good friends and partners", Hu said the China-Sierra Leone traditional friendship remains unchanged despite great changes in the international situation and the domestic circumstances of the two countries. Hu said President Koroma highly treasures bilateral ties and firmly sticks to the one-China policy. Bilateral relations have shown a sound momentum of accelerated growth since President Koroma took his office. Hu highly appreciated these achievements.

Koroma thanked for the best wishes extended by President Hu to the Sierra Leone and African people on the 46th anniversary of Africa Day. When Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations with China 38 years ago, the African country firmly believed that the great People's Republic of China would surely play an important role in the world and their bilateral cooperation would benefit the two countries, Koroma said.

Hu said under the new historical conditions, China is ready to join hands with Sierra Leone to further develop bilateral political ties of equality and mutual trust. Hu proposed both sides keep close contacts between their leaders. The governments and relevant departments of the two countries should enhance planning and coordination for bilateral cooperation in all areas.

Koroma expressed his full agreement with Hu's proposal on developing bilateral ties. "Sierra Leone highly values relations with China, and is ready to cement all-round cooperation with the country and learn from its development experience," he said. He hoped that both sides will expand cooperation on trade, agriculture, mineral resources, medical care and infrastructure. Koroma said his country welcomed increased investment from China, vowing to create sound environment and conditions. Koroma called for enhanced bilateral cooperation on international and regional issues, in particular African issues, to further push forward Sierra Leone-China and Africa-China ties.

The two presidents attended a signing ceremony for a couple of cooperative agreements including one on economic and technological cooperation between the two governments.