A Chinese work team comprising officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, commerce and public security arrived in Ghana Tuesday to discuss the anti-illegal mining issue. After consultations between officials of the two countries, the Chinese detainees were released.
Some media warned that Ghana was showing xenophobia and the operation would hurt bilateral relations between Ghana and China.
"We have had citizens from Nigeria, Niger, France, the United States, who are all operating in this area and we are dealing with them the same way that we are dealing in this work," Amissah-Arthur said.
"We hope it will not affect the relations between Ghana and China because we find the Chinese people very friendly and very supportive of Ghana's economic development," he said.
"We would like to maintain the relationship in a way in which illegal activity will not be condoned that we will also be able to proceed as friendly cooperative countries."
The vice president also said the country hopes to attract more Chinese investment to Ghana to raise bilateral cooperation to a new level.
Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Gong Jianzhong said in talks with Amissah-Arthur Friday that Beijing understands and respects Ghana's actions against illegal mining based on its laws, and is ready to join Ghana in curbing illegal mining activities with all effective measures.
But he called for civilized law enforcement and ensuring that Chinese nationals' reasonable and legitimate rights were protected.
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