China and Sierra Leone Establish Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone on December 1， 2016 in Beijing. The two heads of state decided to upgrade China-Sierra Leone relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. They moreover agreed to take the implementation of the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation （FOCAC） as an opportunity to comprehensively expand and deepen friendly and mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in various areas.

Xi said that China is willing to enhance exchanges with Sierra Leone in numerous areas， including national government and political parties， legislature， the military， and local government. China encourages enterprises and financial institutions to actively engage in infrastructure building and mineral exploitation in Sierra Leone to promote Sierra Leones industrialization and sustainable self-development and achieve mutually beneficial results. China also stands ready to support the countrys development of its agriculture and improvement of its capability to ensure food safety. The two sides should strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges and mutual friendship. China is ready to reinforce communication and coordination with Sierra Leone in UN affairs， climate change， the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development， African peace and security， and other major international and regional issues. They may thus jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

President Koroma said that Sierra Leone firmly upholds the one-China policy and admires Chinas development outcomes. The country stands ready to strengthen its cooperation with China in various fields in efforts to promote continuous development in both its bilateral and Africa-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnerships. Sierra Leone is willing to intensify communication and cooperation in international affairs and enhance mutual support with China.

Beijing Symposium on UN Right to Development Declaration

An international symposium opened on December 4， 2016 in Beijing on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UNs Declaration on the Right to Development. More than 150 officials and scholars from 40 countries， regions， and international organizations attended the symposium.

President Xi Jinping said in his congratulatory letter to the symposium that development is the eternal theme of humanity， and that international society， taking the UNs 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a new starting point， should seek common development through fair， open， comprehensive， and innovative paths. For China， the worlds largest developing country with a population of more than 1.3 billion people， development is the key to solving all problems， and is the primary task of the Communist Party of China， Xi said. He added that China insists on the right to live and development as primary basic human rights.

Xi pointed out that China has always put its people first throughout its development， and effectively safeguarded their right to development. China has also actively participated in global governance and promoted inclusive development， creating conditions and opportunities for all countries （especially developing countries） to share the fruits of development. China will continue to contribute to human development and progress.

Li Keqiang Meets with UN Secretary-General Ant nio Guterres

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Ant nio Guterres， then incoming Secretary-General of the UN in Beijing， on November 28， 2016.

Li observed that the world economic and political landscape is experiencing profound change. The international community， therefore， should stick to the multilateral cooperation system with the UN at its core and the general direction of economic globalization and political multi-polarization. It is hoped that the UN may staunchly continue to safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter， encourage member states equal participation in global governance， enhance the representation and voice of developing countries in international affairs， smoothly implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development， and promote the settlement of disputes through political and peaceful means. 2016 marks the 45th anniversary of Chinas restoration of its lawful seat in the UN， Li said. China-UN cooperation has entered a new stage. As the largest developing country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council， China is willing to work with all parties to enhance cooperation， support the UNs efforts to maintain authority and strengthen capacity， and so better tackle whatever challenges that ensue. The world may then advance towards peaceful， stable， sustainable， and inclusive development.

Ant nio Guterres expressed that China has made remarkable developmental achievements， steadily elevated its international influence， and played an important role in UN affairs. The UN appreciates Chinas active implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is ready to intensify cooperation with China and jointly deal with challenges， facilitating economic globalization and inclusive development.

China-U.K. High-Level People-to-People Dialogue

China and the U.K. wrapped up the fourth meeting of their high-level people-topeople dialogue in Shanghai on December 6， 2016. In a move to achieve a better and stronger relationship， high-profile U.K. officials from nearly 10 areas were in attendance to further advance cooperation in education， culture， technology， health， and tourism. The meeting also included sideline activities， such as basic education forums， youth dialogues， and cultural events.

Cooperation over the past few years has been productive， particularly in the education sector. The mathematics teacher exchange program， which benefited more than 350 teachers from both countries， is just one successful example. In the next four years， the British government will allocate ￡41 million to promote this program in U.K. primary schools. The maths teacher exchange program， according to a report published by the U.K. Department of Education， is highly innovative.