In 2022, our bilateral trade volume was about 10.27 billion US dollars, a big increase compared to the previous years, when pragmatic cooperation and frequent exchanges between the two countries constitute a solid foundation of China-Ghana relations”, Chinese Ambassador Lu Kun reveals.
He made this known at the opening of the Chinese Visa Application Center in Accra Ghana on Thursday, August 10, 2023.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Ambassador Lu Kun, highlighted in his address the remarkable progress of China-Ghana bilateral relations, guided by the leadership of President Xi Jinping and Nana Akufo-Addo, which continues to deepen.
He praised the mutual trust and close cooperation in various fields at large, especially the thriving economic and trade exchanges between China and Ghana that have been flourishing.
“China is Ghana’s biggest trading partner and foreign investment source,” he said.
He also highlighted the impact of China’s adjusted COVID-19 policies earlier in the year, resulting in a surge of visa applicants, particularly for trade and business-related purposes.
Ambassador Lu Kun emphasized the Visa Application Center’s aim to provide enhanced services, ensuring convenience, quality, and efficiency. He expressed confidence in the centre’s contribution to strengthening personnel exchanges and the overall relationship between the two nations.
He underscored the significance of fostering connections between people as a cornerstone of international relations, highlighting the pivotal role the Visa Application Center would play in achieving this objective.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mavis Nkansah Boadu, speaking on behalf of Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, applauded the establishment of a Chinese Visa Application Center in Ghana.
She emphasizes the event’s importance as a milestone in bilateral relations between Ghana and China and that the opening of the visa centre is a testament to the commitment to enhance services and facilitate smoother travel for those aspiring to visit China.
“The opening of the Chinese Visa Application Center in Ghana underscores our commitment to providing enhanced services and facilitating smoother travel for all those who seek to visit China. We have recognized the importance of strengthening our relationship with China and fostering greater people-to-people exchanges between our nations,” she stated.
The Deputy Minister underscored the centre’s potential to boost tourism, expedite business ventures, foster academic collaborations, and encourage cultural exchanges between the two nations.
She emphasized the centre’s role in streamlining the visa application process, ensuring greater efficiency and convenience for Ghanaian citizens and other residents of Ghana intending to travel to China.
By Sheila Satori Mensa
