Chief Justice, Chinese ambassador pledged to deepen judicial collaboration

His Excellency Zhao Yong, the newly appointed Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Sierra Leone, paid a formal courtesy call on the Honourable Chief Justice of Sierra Leone, Justice Komba Kamanda, on January 20, 2025, and promised to strengthen collaboration between the Chinese Embassy and the Sierra Leone Judiciary during his tenure.
Ambassador Zhao expressed gratitude for the Chief Justice’s warm welcome and praised the existing cordial working relationship between the Judiciary and the Chinese Embassy. He stated that his mission in Sierra Leone would focus on consolidating the long-standing bilateral ties between the People’s Republic of China and Sierra Leone, with a particular emphasis on continued cooperation with the country’s judicial institutions.
Chief Justice Komba Kamanda welcomed Ambassador Zhao to the Judiciary and to Sierra Leone, congratulating him on his diplomatic appointment. In his remarks, the Chief Justice reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening the positive relationship that has developed with the Chinese Embassy in recent years. During his tenure, he observed that collaborative initiatives with China yielded tangible benefits for the judiciary.
The Chief Justice also thanked Ambassador Zhao’s predecessor and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for their material and program support, citing last year’s motorcycle donation and ongoing capacity-building training programs that have provided professional development opportunities for Judiciary employees.
Both parties used the meeting to reaffirm their mutual commitment to intensifying judicial cooperation and strengthening Sierra Leone’s and China’s broader bilateral relationship. The conversation highlighted a shared interest in strengthening institutional links as well as ongoing support for initiatives that improve the Judiciary’s operational capacity.
Supreme Court Justices Alusine Sesay and Fatmatta Bintu Alhadi, High Court Judge Honourable Justice Manuella Harding, and Legal Researcher Alpha Bannie Jalloh, Esq., joined the Chief Justice at the meeting.