The nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections in August 2007 constituted an important milestone in Sierra Leone’s transition to peace. Only the second since the end of the civil war and the first since the departure of UN peacekeepers in 2005, the elections had a high turnout, were conducted peacefully and declared free and fair by international observers. In fact, the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections have been often used as an example of increased democracy in Africa. Accordingly, the country’s ranking on the Democracy Index (prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit) rose from 121st in 2006 to 112th in 2008, out of 167 countries. The next elections are set for 2012, with the president preparing a strong bid for a second term. The current administration recorded some achievements, including the long-awaited opening of the Bumbuna hydro-electric dam at the end of 2009. Another positive step is the adoption of a policy of zero tolerance for corruption, whose introduction could improve governance and the investment climate. The government launched a new National Anti-Corruption Strategy and in 2008 passed a strict Anti-Corruption Act, which requires all civil servants to declare their assets.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has prosecuted a number of influential business people as well as public officials, including several high-ranking ones, for corruption. Consequently, Sierra Leone’s ranking on the Transparency International corruption perception index (CPI) rose from 158th to 146th out of 180 countries between 2008 and 2009. The country has also improved its position on the Ibrahim Index, a comprehensive measure of governance in Africa. As a symbol of progress with peaceful transition, and after hosting the largest peacekeeping force in Africa during 1991-2002, Sierra Leone participates in the UN/African Union peacekeeping mission in Sudan.

 

The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations on July 29, 1971. Bilateral relations between the two countries have ever since achieved a smooth development.

Major visits to Sierra Leone paid by Chinese leaders and senior officials are as follows: Vice Chairman Ji Pengfei of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (December 1978), Vice Premier Tian Jiyun (November 1984), Vice Chairman Liao Hansheng of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (November 1985), Minister of Forestry Yang Zhong (January 1986), Deputy Foreign Minister Tian Zengpei (1994), Deputy Foreign Minister Ji Peiding (July 1998), Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Zhang Xiang (2001), Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Lu Guozeng (November 2003 and October 2005), Secretary Chen Jianguo of Ningxia Regional Party Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) (December 2003), Vice Chairman Wang Daoyu of the Standing Committee of Shandong Provincial People's Congress (December 2005), Deputy Minister Ma Wenpu of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (June 2006), Assistance Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhai Jun (November 2007, as Special Envoy of President Hu Jintao), Vice President Meng Xiaosi of All-China Women's Federation (March 2009), Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (January 2010).

Major visits to China paid by Sierra Leonean leaders include: President Siaka Stevens (November 1973, April-May 1981 and March 1985), William N. S. Conteh, Speaker of the Parliament (October 1984 and November 1987), President Joseph Saidu Momoh (February 1986 and July 1990), Vice President Salia Jusu Sheriff (October 1989), Mohamed Lamin Kamara, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (February 1993), Valentine E. Melvin Strasser, Chairman of the National Provisional Ruling Council (October 1994), Vice President Albert J. E. Demby (October-November 1996), Sama Banya, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (October-November 1998), President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (May-June 1999, November 2006 to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation), Sheku M. F. Kutubu, Speaker of the Parliament (August 1999) , Momodu Koroma, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (August 2003, April 2006 as member of Vice President Berewa's delegation, November 2006 to attend the 3rd Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC), Vice President Solomon Berewa (April 2006), Zainab Hawa Bangura, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (November 2008, May 2009 and May 2010 as member of President Koroma's delegation), Abel Nathaniel Stronge, Speaker of the Parliament (December 2008), President Ernest Bai Koroma (May 2009 State Visit to China, May 2010 to attend the Sierra Leone National Pavilion Day of the Shanghai EXPO).