President Mahama and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng hold talks to deepen strategic partnership on sidelines of UN General Assembly

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Friday on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, in discussions aimed at strengthening the longstanding strategic partnership between Ghana and China.

The closed-door meeting in New York provided an opportunity for the two leaders to reaffirm mutual commitments and explore expanded cooperation in key sectors. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng stated that China is ready to work with Ghana to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and steadily deepen the China-Ghana strategic partnership.

Han highlighted the historical roots of the relationship, noting that the China-Ghana friendship was forged by the older generation of leaders of the two countries and has stood the test of time. He emphasized shared interests in promoting unity, self-reliance, development, and revitalization among countries of the Global South, calling for the two sides to firmly support each other and enhance solidarity under new circumstances.

China is willing to advance cooperation with Ghana in areas including mining, green energy, vocational training, and youth development, Han said. He also called on Ghana to continue providing a favorable business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in the country and to make full and effective use of China’s zero-tariff policy to achieve mutual benefit and common development.

President Mahama underscored the profound historical foundation of Ghana-China relations and expressed sincere appreciation for China’s valuable support and assistance over the years. He reaffirmed Ghana’s adherence to the one-China policy and said Ghana looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in fields such as trade, investment, mining, and manufacturing, while enhancing people-to-people exchanges to continuously enrich bilateral ties.

The talks form part of President Mahama’s broader engagements during the UN General Assembly high-level week. Ghana and China established diplomatic relations in 1960, rooted in the personal bonds between Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, and Chinese leaders including Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai. China remains Ghana’s largest trading partner. Bilateral trade reached a record US$14.1 billion in 2025, reflecting strong year-on-year growth, with Chinese investment playing a significant role in infrastructure, energy, and other sectors.

The meeting builds on recent high-level exchanges, including President Mahama’s visit to China in 2025, during which he held talks with President Xi Jinping. Both sides have emphasized practical cooperation under frameworks such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative, alongside support for Ghana’s economic reset agenda and industrialization efforts.

The discussions signal continued momentum in elevating the partnership at a time when both countries seek greater collaboration on development priorities, Global South solidarity, and mutual economic benefits.