Ghana’s exports to China increased by 41.3% last year. China’s non-financial direct investment to Ghana reached US$3.213 billion by the end of 2017, involving electricity, aviation, building materials and other fields said Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Shi Ting Wang.
Today, China is the largest trading partner of Ghana. The trade volume between the two countries has soared from less than US$100 million in 2000 to nearly US$ 6.6 billion in 2017.
He said, China has implemented and continues to implement several aid projects, within which the project of 1,000 boreholes is benefiting 300,000 people at grass roots level in Ghana, and medical teams has helped thousands of the Ghanaian people free of charge. Besides, more than 6500 young Ghanaian students are studying in China.
Speaking at the 57th Anniversary of the signing of the treaty of friendship between Ghana and china in Accra on Saturday on the theme: Deeping the friendship ties between the Peoples of Ghana and China: opening a new page of corporate engagement by Ghanaian and Chinese Business Entities, Shi Ting Wang indicated that, this year is a significant year for the development of China-Africa relations.
The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation {FOCAC}, as a new milestone in China-Africa relations will be held in September. The Beijing Summit will combine the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Africa, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union with the development strategies of various African countries, and launch new strategies and new measures to strengthen all-round cooperation between China and Africa, so as to open new opportunities and new horizons for the development of China-Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Leaders and representatives of more than 50 African countries will gather in Beijing and jointly plan the future of China-Africa relations with Chinese leaders on the theme of “win-win cooperation and build a closer community of shared future between China and Africa” He added.
Briefing on the history of the Ghana-China Friendship Association {GHACHIFA}, He said, On 5 July 1960, Ghana’s great statesman and founding President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah made the decision to establish diplomatic ties with China despite huge pressure from Western countries, thus opening a new chapter in China-Ghana relations. 57 years ago, on the exact day of 18 August 1961, President Nkrumah signed the Treaty of Friendship between China and Ghana together with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai during his visit to China, laying a solid foundation for the development of our bilateral relations.
On a speech read on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Minister and Regional Integration, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchway said, the Chinese business community is keenly monitoring the business opportunities initiatives like the One-district-one –factory, One-village-one dam and planting for food and jobs.
By: Latifa Carlos
