On February 8, the Embassy of China in Sierra Leone solemnly hosted the Spring Festival Reception themed “Auspicious Horse Welcomes the Spring, Celebrating the Chinese New Year” in Freetown. Ambassador Zhao Yong of China to Sierra Leone attended and delivered a speech. Over 300 guests participated, including representatives from the Sierra Leone China Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Business Association, Chinese enterprises in Sierra Leone, Chinese nationals and overseas Chinese, as well as friends from various sectors of Sierra Leone.

In his address, Ambassador Zhao extended New Year greetings to compatriots in Sierra Leone, highlighted China's tremendous developmental achievements in 2025, and expressed the hope that the Chinese community would support each other to contribute fresh impetus toward advancing bilateral exchanges across all fields and to build an even closer China-Africa community with a shared future.

The event featured a festive and vibrant atmosphere with spectacular performances including dragon and lion dances, ethnic songs and dances, martial arts, acrobatics, and the face-changing performance of Sichuan opera. While welcoming the Chinese New Year and sharing nostalgia for their homeland, attendees exchanged visions for the future of China-Sierra Leone relations and looked forward to jointly writing a new chapter in bilateral cooperation.