CONAKRY, Jan. 14 -- Guinea President Alpha Conde on Wednesday congratulated the 24th Chinese medical mission in Guinea, which is preparing to leave the country after two years, an official source has said.

The Chinese medical mission arrived in Guinea in August 2014 at the height of the Ebola epidemic, to help Guinean health workers who were fighting the disease.

"We are very happy and proud of having contributed to the fight against Ebola virus in Guinea," said Wang Zhenchang, head of the 24th Chinese medical mission in Guinea.

Dr. Fode Sekou Camara, the director of Sino-Guinea Friendship Hospital hailed the role and support provided by the 24th Chinese medical mission to the Guinean health facilities.

"Our country was almost not being visited and we saw a number of business owners close their shops to return to their countries," Dr. Camara said, adding that despite all this, "the Chinese cooperation continued and Chinese doctors came in 2014 to help us, train us and help us fight against Ebola."

He said the Chinese medical team had also brought its own medical and health equipments.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties with China, "Guinea has benefited from the cooperation and support of the Chinese government," president Conde said in his statement.

He said the desire of most Guinean people is to see the Sino-Guinea Friendship Hospital become a referral hospital to stop people from going to Morocco or France for medical attention.

"It is with a lot of sadness that we see you leave," the Guinean president said, and also added that all doctors who helped Guinea fight against Ebola, including those from China, will be honoured.

The 25th Chinese medical mission is expected in Guinea in the next few days under the framework of cooperation in the health sector between Guinea and China.