By: Fatou Krubally
The Government of The Gambia has signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with representatives from the Province of Heilongjiang, a northeastern region of the People’s Republic of China.
The agreements, signed at the State House in Banjul and witnessed by President Adama Barrow, are aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and advancing socio-economic development between the two sides.
According to a government statement, the signing marks an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to build strong relations and contribute meaningfully to national development. Among the agreements signed is an MoU for the development of water and sports facilities. Signed by the Minister and Chief of Staff at the President’s Office, this initiative is expected to support the revitalisation of the sports sector and improve access to clean water across the country.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, signed another MoU for the provision of free cataract surgeries. The agreement, according to Government, will allow patients requiring eye operations to receive treatment at no cost, in line with government objectives to expand healthcare services.
The third agreement, signed by the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, according to the government, establishes a framework for talent exchange and training. The programme is designed to build workforce capacity through knowledge-sharing and skills development initiatives. In agriculture, another MoU was signed focusing on the provision of non-genetically modified rice seeds to boost agricultural productivity and enhance food security efforts.
In addition to the government agreements, Longjian Company of China signed four separate contracts with Gambian institutions. These include contracts with the National Roads Authority for the construction of the BB Bridge in Kotu and for road maintenance, an agreement with the ROOTS Programme to support seed production, and a deal with the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) to rehabilitate land for rice cultivation.
Following the signing ceremony, President Barrow hosted a private dinner in honour of the visiting Chinese delegation. In a statement, the government said the agreements and investments are critical to achieving national development goals.
The joint committee co-chair explained that the Banjul convergence will be guided by a rigorous technical approach, grounded in evidence-based analysis, policy evaluation, and strategic forecasting, while challenging the ECOWAS parliamentarians to objectively assess the implications of the withdrawal of the Sahel States.
Fabakary Tombong Jatta, speaker of the Gambia’s National Assembly, expressed gratitude to the ECOWAS Parliament for choosing The Gambia for such “an important convergence”, adding that the theme of the meeting is not merely a topic for discussion but also calls for a deeper introspection of the founding principles of ECOWAS and to what extent these principles are serving the wishes and aspirations of ECOWAS citizens.
“The withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger on January 29, 2025, marks the most significant crisis in West Africa’s regional integration since the founding of ECOWAS in 1975. This second major rupture, after Mauritania’s exit in 2000, demands that we have frank and uncomfortable discussions on the best possible options to sustain the ideals of ECOWAS anchored on the principles of democracy, good governance, respect for rule of law and economic viability of all member states and the final integration of the African Continent,” Hon. Jatta pointed out in his opening statement.
He added: “It is however worth noting that despite the major setback the withdrawal represents, ECOWAS’s measured and pragmatic approach to the withdrawal of the Sahel States by establishing transitional arrangements to preserve crucial privileges for citizens of these countries, including recognition of ECOWAS-branded documents, trade benefits, visa-free movement rights, and support for ECOWAS officials from these nations, shows the commitment to building bridges for cooperation and is highly commendable.”