Julius Maada Bio speaks to journalists after casting his vote at a polling station in Freetown, Sierra Leone, June 24, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)
President Xi Jinping congratulated Julius Maada Bio on his reelection as president of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
In a congratulatory message sent to Bio on Tuesday, Xi said China and Sierra Leone have a long-standing friendship. In recent years, the two countries have continuously strengthened political mutual trust, achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation, and closely coordinated in international affairs.
Xi said he is willing to work with President Bio to promote bilateral ties, noting that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Sierra Leone relations.
The two countries should support each other, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and promote the continuous development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Sierra Leone, bringing greater benefits to the two peoples, Xi said.
Bio, 59, has held key posts in Sierra Leone's National Provisional Ruling Council since 1992. In April 2018, he won the presidential election and was sworn in as the country's president.
The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone declared on June 27 that Bio, the incumbent president and the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party candidate, had won his second five-year term in this year's presidential election.
The ECSL announced that Bio secured about 56.17 percent of total votes, while the opposition All People's Congress candidate Samura Kamara got around 41.16 percent.
The leading presidential candidate must secure 55 percent of the votes cast to be declared the winner of the presidential race.
Sierra Leone ran its presidential, parliamentary and local council elections on June 24.
