The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has paid glowing tribute to the contribution of Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Shi Ting Wang, in deepening the Ghana-China relations.
Ghana and China, the Minister said, reinforced their cooperation collaboration on a wide range of bilateral and international issues during his tenure.
She expressed appreciation for his commitment and immense contribution towards the sustained growth of Ghana-China relations during his tenure of office.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey who was speaking during a farewell call on her by Ambassador Wang expressed surprise at his recall but acknowledged such routine changes are normal within the diplomatic community.
She, however, expressed regret he is leaving barely a month to the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
She acknowledged that though his tour of duty in Ghana has been short, his contribution to the Ghana-China relations has been immense.
The Minister noted with satisfaction that high-level visits, intensive interactions and exchanges between Ghanaian and Chinese leaders had become frequent and fruitful during his tenure.
“Trade relations between the two countries had seen a marked increase resulting in China being the largest trading partner of Ghana whilst Ghana is the 7th largest trading partner of China in Africa,” she said.
She commended him for the instrumental role he played and continues to play in facilitating the approval from China, government’s priority infrastructure projects especially those under phase 1 of the Master Project Support Agreement between the government and SINOHYDRO.
And the role in ensuring the approval of funds by the Chinese government for the construction of the Ministry’s annex building and expressed hope actual construction will commence soon.
“Given the remarkable success chalked in the past six decades of our relations, it is your conviction that challenges and differences which are normal between close friends are surmountable through continuous dialogue, understanding and adoption of pragmatic measures in order not to derail the hard-won friendship and cooperation and the increasing trade, economic, and investment relations between our two countries.”
“Our two countries must, therefore, remain focused on the target of further strengthening our political, diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations,” she stated.
Ms. Ayorkor Botchwey, on behalf of the government, conveyed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Chinese government in support of Ghana’s socio-economic development agenda.
She urged Ambassador Wang to be a voice for Ghana and to continue promoting the excellent relations between the two countries.
She expressed hope his successor will continue to strengthen the already excellent bilateral relations between the two countries.
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Frontpageghana.com/Ghana/Uthman A. Marani
