Tong Defa, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, has reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening the long-standing strategic partnership between China and Ghana, describing 2025 as a historic milestone in the bilateral relationship.
He said 2025 marked the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the 25th anniversary of the Ghana–China Friendship Association (GHACHIFA), the beginning of President John Dramani Mahama’s new administration, and the final year of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan.
The Ambassador was speaking at the GHACHIFA End-of-Year Soiree in Accra, held under the theme: “2026 Ghana–China Year of People-to-People Exchanges.”
He said these developments had helped deepen cooperation and produce “rich fruits” across multiple sectors.
Tong recalled that the China–Ghana friendship, built by founding leaders including Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai and Dr Kwame Nkrumah, remained strong and continued to serve the shared interests of the Global South.
He commended GHACHIFA for 25 years of active contributions to bilateral friendship through economic, cultural and educational activities, symposiums and public engagements.
The Ambassador said China remained Ghana’s largest trading partner and a major investor.
In 2024, bilateral trade reached US$11.8 billion, representing a 7.1 per cent increase from the previous year.
He said thousands of Chinese companies were operating in Ghana, boosting employment and industrialisation.
He noted that cooperation reached new heights following President Mahama’s State visit to China in October 2025, during which he met President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
“Both sides agreed on a development blueprint and achieved consensus on the Early Harvest Arrangements under the Economic Partnership for Shared Development,” he added.
He said Ghana would be among the first African countries to benefit from China’s zero-tariff policy covering all tariff lines.
Benjamin Anyagre, General Secretary of GHACHIFA, said Ghana’s enduring partnership with China was built on mutual trust, shared values and a vision for collective progress.
He said although 2025 came with challenges, GHACHIFA remained resilient and successfully launched activities marking the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship between Ghana and China.
Anyagre said Ghana–China cooperation had evolved into a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, yielding tangible benefits in infrastructure development, including transport networks, modern communication systems, industrial parks, logistics hubs, railways, ports and information infrastructure.
He said bilateral cooperation also spanned education, culture, tourism, sports, science and technology, green development and social welfare.
According to him, initiatives such as the Ghana–China Youth Cultural Forum, the Future Leaders’ Dialogue, innovation competitions, youth space collaborations and study exchange programmes had enabled Ghanaian youth, women, media practitioners and researchers to gain deeper insights into China and access new opportunities.
He said cultural exchanges continued to strengthen mutual understanding through tourism, film, publishing, sports and the creative arts.
“The partnership also supports health, poverty alleviation, public welfare, disability inclusion and the expansion of sister-city relationships,” he added.
He proposed the establishment of a Ghana–China Cooperation and Development Forum to drive initiatives such as Ghanaian Female Leadership Training, Women’s Entrepreneurship and Empowerment programmes, and Youth Innovation schemes.
Tang Hong, President of the Ghana Association of Chinese Societies, highlighted the deep and historic relations between Ghana and China, describing 2025 as a landmark year in their longstanding partnership.
He recalled that Chinese communities had settled in Ghana as early as the 1940s and praised Ghana’s role in supporting China’s reinstatement to the United Nations.
He emphasised the role of the Ghana Association of Chinese Societies and GHACHIFA in promoting people-to-people engagement through cultural dialogues, business forums and youth programmes.
He said the friendship between the two countries was not only diplomatic, but deeply rooted within communities.
Tang also recounted humanitarian interventions undertaken by the Chinese community in response to challenges in Ghana.
