President John Evans Atta Mills, on his arrival in Beijing, China, on Sunday for a five-day state visit, has stressed Sino-Ghana relations and collaboration for mutual benefits.
He said it was time the two nations, and for that matter China and Africa got together to chart a new path because they had similar backgrounds and past experiences, stressing that collaboration among them would help to achieve the common objectives of raising the standard of the people.
In a brief statement at the Beijing Capital International Airport, President Mills told the welcoming party, led by the Chinese Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Zhat Jin, that Ghana welcomed collaboration to improve ties to accelerate the level of development.
He expressed his appreciation to the welcoming party, made up of 28 members of the African Diplomatic Corp, including Mrs Mamle Cofie, Ghana's Ambassador to China.
Dating back from independence, Ghana and China have collaborated in a number of joint projects in the construction of Ghana's foremost hydro electric plant, the construction of Ghana's National Theatre, and recently, the ongoing construction of the Bui Dam in addition to a Chinese-Assisted hospital complex in Teshie in Accra.
Accompanied by a delegation of Ministers of State, business people and entrepreneurs, President Mills' visit is to strengthen the already good bilateral ties between Accra and Beijing, and to explore ways for further collaboration.
During his visit, President Mills would meet and hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, and sign a 270 million dollar loan facility from China to expand the Kpong Water Project, in Ghana.
President Mills and his Chinese counterpart would also sign other bilateral and protocol agreements.
Other activities on the itinerary of President Mills are a visit to Bonsai Aluminium Company, which recently invested 80 per cent share in the development of Ghana's bauxite and aluminium industries, investment talks and business forum organised by the China Development Bank and a meeting with African Ambassadors.
President Mills would also visit the Shanghai Construction Corporation and the Huawei Communication Company as well as grant interviews with the Chinese media. He would also interact with the Ghanaian community in Beijing.
According to Mr Koku Anyidoho, Head of Communications at the Office of Ghana's President, President Mills would make a brief return to Ghana to take part in the national housing and population census, and continue his trip to Japan, where he would hold bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan. He will also pay a courtesy call on Emperor Akihoto of Japan.
In Japan, President Mills would interact with the Japan Federation of Economic Organisations and meet with officials of the Japanese International Co-operation Agency.
President Mills is expected back home on October 3, 2010.
From Benjamin Mensah, GNA Special Correspondent, Beijing, China