He mentioned some of the investments China had made in Ghana to include airlines, communication facilities, oil refinery, steel, ceramic and cement businesses.

Mr Yang said those investments had helped to create many jobs and boosted the economy of Ghana, including its industrialisation agenda.

"The people-to-people exchanges continue to prosper. Around 40,000 Chinese are living and working in Ghana, while more and more Ghanaians are doing business in China," he said.

Mr Yang was speaking at the commemoration of the 63rd anniversary of the signing of the treaty of friendship between Ghana and China in Accra last Friday.

The event was organised by the Ghana-China Friendship Association (GHACHIFA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Chinese Embassy and the Association of Chinese Societies in Ghana.

On August 18, 1961, Ghana and China signed a friendship treaty which affirmed the close bilateral ties between the two countries, leading to the establishment of the foundation for cooperation and the emergence of Afro-Asia solidarity.

The treaty, which established full diplomatic relations between the two countries, was signed by President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Chairman Mao Zedong of China.

Deepening of relations

Mr Yang said the treaty did not only go to confirm the friendship between China and Ghana in pursuit of world peace and national liberation, but also demonstrated the solidarity between the two countries.

He said the mutual trust between the two countries continued to deepen, adding that Ghana was among the first countries to have established diplomatic relationship with China, and that over the years the two countries had continued to support each other.

Projects

Mr Yang further mentioned other China-aided projects to include the University of Health and Allied Sciences, the James Town Fishing Harbour and the annex building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

Three Confucius institutes, he said, had also been established in Ghana, with more than 10,000 Ghanaian students studying Chinese and about 4,600 others studying in China.

He said China was the largest developing country, while Africa was the continent with the largest members of developing countries.

Mr Yang said China had always regarded solidarity and cooperation with Ghana and other African countries as an important cornerstone of its foreign policy.

He said the 2024 Summit on China-Africa Cooperation would be held in Beijing, where Chinese and African leaders would gather to explore opportunities to strengthen their existing friendship and cooperation.

Mr Yang said President Nana Akufo-Addo would be meeting his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, and the two leaders would have discussions on bilateral relations.

Development

The Chairman of GHACHIFA, Ambassador Anani Demuyakor, said in the past 30 years, China had leapfrogged from a poor agrarian country into a highly industrialised technologically advanced nation, becoming the second largest economy after the US.

"Now, it is our turn to hold the bright torch, never to let it dim", he said.

The Divisional Head of Omni Bsic Bank, Ghana, George Tetteh Ocansey, said GHACHIFA had over the years deepened relationship with the business community, thereby fostering unpretentious and vibrant diplomacy and cultural relations between Ghana and China.

He said the aim of the association was to foster friendly relations and non-governmental cooperation between Ghana and China, promote a people-to-people exchange, collaborate for joint trade missions, networking and cultural and educational exchanges, among others.