China Gives Military Equipment

Liberia has again benefitted from another military aid from the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The military aid include 20 heavy duty trucks, two graders, 10,000 sets of military uniforms and 40 tents with a total value of US$3m.

The Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia or AFL, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, graced the turning over ceremony at the Barclay Training Center at the Ministry of National Defense in
Monrovia. Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yue made the official presentation of the equipment on Wednesday, 10 February.

The Chinese Ambassador described the donation by his government as another hard evidence of China’s sincere and strong support to Liberia’s peace-keeping effort and social stability maintenance during the course of UN Peacekeepers’ Draw-down.

“We take Liberia’s development priorities as our assistance priorities, aimed at bringing tangible benefit to the Liberian people,” said Mr. Yue, while recalling that since 2004, China’s Defense Ministry has provided its Liberian counterpart nearly US$15m worth of military assistance and 217 training slots.

“Now, there are 23 AFL officers and soldiers who are joining the training program in China,” he added, further appreciating the Liberian Government’s achievements in developing the national economy, speeding up infrastructure developing and bringing benefit to the Liberian people.

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf expressed the need for the equipment by the AFL donated by the Chinese Government. She had earlier acknowledged the depreciation of previous equipment, including trucks.

She said the contribution of the Chinese Government was a clear attestation of Liberia’s Military Chief of Staff Bregadier General Daniel Ziankhan’s performance, alongside his gallant men and women in arms, who have enabled Ambassador Yue and other partners to have great confidence in his ability to keep Liberia safe and secure.
“We’re all proud of you; we want to see you do even more. I know when it comes to going beyond that which has to do with security – you are making great contribution to our development work,” President Sirleaf – also Commander-in-Chief of the AFL applaudedChief of Staff Ziankhan.

She cited works on many of the roads here that have brought relief to citizens as they move around the country, as some of Gen. Ziankhan’s contributions to developments outside security, saying the equipment will help him do more.

She finally praised Defense Minister Brownie Samukai for his leadership and ability to negotiate, as well as to bring contributions to the Armed Forces of Liberia.

By Winston W. Parley-Edited by George Barpeen