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Sierra Leone: 4 Journalists off to China

5 August 2008 at 20:58 | 3260 views

By Alhaji Jalloh,Freetown.

Four Sierra Leonean journalists left the Lungi International Airport for the Chinese Capital, Beijing last Sunday.

The four, Mohamed Samura, Director of the Sierra Leone News Agency, (SLENA) Samuel John of Awoko Newspaper, Ransford Kabia and Mohamed Asmieu Bah of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) will be joining over three hundred of their colleagues around the globe for this year’s Olympic Games.

According to the Political Officer at the Chinese Embassy in Freetown, Cheng Yan the invitation of the four media practitioners was in response to the request by journalists from many developing countries to be involved in the coming Beijing Olympics 2008.

"Our government has decided to sponsor a programme for journalists from developing countries to visit China and cover the Beijing Olympics from 5th to 11th August," a letter from the Chinese Embassy to the Journalists states.

Speaking to this press shortly before their departure, Mohamed Samura said their visit will be an eye opener, adding that, the visit will also help to strengthen the bi-lateral diplomatic relationship between Sierra Leone and China.

"The visit will also help us exchange ideas with our colleagues in China," the SLENA Chief concluded. Meanwhile, reports monitored from China say, Sixteen Chinese policemen have been killed in an attack on a border post in the restive Muslim region of Xinjiang four days before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

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