China ready to deepen economic cooperation with Ghana: ambassador

ACCRA - Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Sun Baohong on Thursday said China is ready to deepen economic cooperation with Ghana to create more mutual benefit.

The ambassador made the statement during her speech at the final round of the 2015 ENACTUS (previously known as Students In Free Enterprise) Ghana national competitions.

"China has become an important destination of tourism, overseas study and business for Ghanaian people," Sun said.

Ghana and China established diplomatic ties 55 years ago. Bilateral trade between the two nations hit $5.6 billion last year, with Ghana's export to China reaching $1.4 billion.

Sun lauded the growing trade and said "the two countries should do even more".

"We are ready to strengthen cooperation with Ghana on a win-win basis and implement more projects conforming to Ghana's needs. Ghana is endowed with a highly-open market, well-educated workforce, geographical advantage and a relatively good foundation for development," she said.

Sun said Chinese approach to industrial development could help Ghana in its bid for economic transformation towards industrialization and increased exports, and called for more cooperation in manufacturing between the two nations.

"Now, Ghana is pursuing industrialization and export-oriented strategy. Taking over competitive industrial capacity from China can complement Ghana's inner-growth approach, revitalize its manufacturing sector, buttress the backbone and risk-resistant capacity of Ghana's economy, and reduce the trade deficit with China," she said.

Figures reveal that Ghana has the largest number in Africa of self-financing students in further study in China's institutions - - some 3,400 people.

Speaking of the competition held by the ENACTUS, an international organization serving as a platform for university students worldwide to create community development projects, the ambassador wished the champion of Ghana good luck in the game's world finals in South Africa, saying "the Chinese team is waiting for you in South Africa."

Nine tertiary institutions participated in the ENACTUS Ghana competitions and four were qualified for the national finals.