The China-West Africa Investment and Industrialisation Dialogue took place in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 13 November 2026. The event featured Zhang Dianbin, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, and Wang Peng, Counsellor for commercial and economic cooperation at the Chinese Embassy.
Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella, Sierra Leone’s Special Envoy for the upcoming 2026 West Africa Integration and Investment Summit, was joined by ministers from Trade and Industry, Mines and Mineral Resources, and Fisheries, along with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and the Executive Director of the National Investment Commission.
Over 100 delegates attended, including senior government officials, representatives from Chinese and Sierra Leonean businesses, regional bodies like the ECOWAS Economic Commission and the Mano River Union, and the China-Africa Development Fund. Attendees engaged in discussions on industrialisation and investment opportunities.
The Chinese delegation emphasised its commitment to sincerity, tangible outcomes, and shared interests, focusing on market and legal frameworks to support Sierra Leone’s industrial development.
African representatives expressed their support for Chinese investments, looking forward to enhanced collaboration in sectors such as mining, infrastructure, energy, and agriculture, while aiming for a fair and transparent business environment.
Chinese and Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs exchanged practical experiences, demonstrating their intent to bolster the real economy in West Africa. This dialogue serves as the inaugural high-level event of the West Africa Integration and Investment Summit, aimed at facilitating government-business partnerships, aligning objectives, and promoting regional industrialisation.
