Let me first extend our warm welcome to the Sierra Leone delegation, led by H.E. Minister Alpha Ibrahim SESAY. I also wish to express my appreciation to the Secretariat for their excellent work and thank the distinguished discussant, H.E. Ambassador KAH, for the very insightful remarks.

This review period for Sierra Leone has been marked with multiple global challenges. China commends Sierra Leone's efforts to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic disruptions, which led to a GDP growth rate of 3.1% in 2022 and an estimated rise to 5.2% by 2025. We are pleased to see that the ratio of goods trade to GDP increased from 53% in 2017 to nearly 80% in 2023. We commend Sierra Leone for its progress in implementing the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030), which aims to position the country to become a middle-income country by 2035, in alignment with the UN 2030 Agenda. Given that agriculture accounts for 57% of GDP and is a primary source of livelihood, we commend Sierra Leone's effort to implement the "Feed Salone" flagship program to boost productivity, reduce import dependency, and significantly increase export earnings through trade.

While acknowledging Sierra Leone's commendable efforts in undertaking economic reforms, it is important to note that the country continues to face challenges as an LDC. Despite the rich natural resources, its economy remains vulnerable to internal structural challenges and external shocks. We are concerned that the recent unilateral measures and turbulence, mentioned by both Minister Sesay and the discussant, could further affect LDCs, including Sierra Leone, disturbing trade flows, destabilising the macroeconomy, and hindering their efforts to integrate into the global supply chain. It is worth noting that over 80% of the population is food insecure, according to the World Food Programme. Against this backdrop, a predictable, stable and open global trading system is extremely important, especially for LDCs.

As a founding member of the WTO, Sierra Leone has demonstrated its commitment to the WTO and benefited from the organisation as well. We appreciate its participation in the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the establishment of the National Investment Board in 2022 to facilitate investment. We commend Sierra Leone's efforts to implement the Trade Facilitation Agreement while introducing the Electronic Single Window in 2020. We also commend Sierra Leone's ratification of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies in 2024, and its national action plan to prevent IUU fishing. We highlight the dedicated work of Ambassador Dr Gberie as chair of the TRIPS Council, leading to a meaningful outcome at MC12 on IP measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage Sierra Leone to join the E-commerce Agreement (ECA), and to continue improving its notifications and reinforcing capacity building through the WTO technical assistance framework.

On the bilateral front, China is Sierra Leone's largest trading partner and primary source of foreign investment. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume reached USD 1.77 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 7.3%. Last year, the two sides agreed to enhance trade and investment cooperation during the state visit by President Bio to China. China welcomes Sierra Leone's accession to the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and looks forward to deepening cooperation under this framework.

China provides a 100% duty-free preferential trade arrangement to Sierra Leone under the scheme for LDCs. We hope that Sierra Leone will continue to foster a conducive business environment, improve government efficiency, streamline permit approval processes, and provide greater facilitation for foreign enterprises to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI).

For the purpose of this review, China has submitted a couple of questions on AfCFTA. We thank the Sierra Leone delegation for their responses and wish this TPR a great success.