Sierra Leone's president lauds China's support in anti-Ebola fight

The President of the Ebola ravaged west African state of Sierra Leone has described the support from China in the fight against the virus as "exemplary" and second to none.

President Koroma made this remark when Ren Minghui, the Director of the department of international cooperation of the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China paid a courtesy call on him at state house in Freetown on Wednesday.

The Chinese director is in the country for the opening of a laboratory at Jui close to the Chinese built hospital.

President Koroma described China as a "true friend indeed of Sierra Leone". He noted that China has fulfilled a promise at the outbreak of the virus to provide a permanent lab for disease control to Sierra Leone.

He pointed out that the lab is in line with the country's response to the fight against the dreaded disease. He looked forward for the lab to be transformed to a centre for disease control and "research and the empowerment of the country's medical staff".

Ren Minghui described the new lab as a symbol of further cooperation between the two countries and recommended that the Jui hospital be used as a "center for tropical disease and disease control". He also suggested a building of relations between Sierra Leone and China for Sierra Leone medical staff to benefit from the Chinese experience.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone described Chinese aid to Sierra Leone as "easy to access and comes in timely".

Chinese Ambassador, Zhao Yanbo said the Chinese wasted no time in providing comprehensive assistance including drugs, holding and treatment centers and medical staff including the new permanent lab. He described the lab as "one of the most important symbol of Sierra Leone-China relations".