China ready to work with Liberia

China says it is ready to work closely with the Government and people of Liberia to make relations between both countries and peoples more productive and beneficial.

The 19th Communist Party of China (19th CPC) National Congress outlines 10 priority areas in promoting trade and economic cooperation with Liberia, including infrastructure, human resources, manufacturing and processing, agriculture, tourism, marine economy, finance, security, people-to-people exchange and international cooperation, respectively.

Addressing a seminar here Thursday, 11 January on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, at the Chinese Embassy in Congo Town Back Road near Monrovia, Chinese Ambassador ZHANG Yue notes that situated in a prime location with boasting rich resources, Liberia is the African country that has potential for deeper mutually beneficial cooperation.

“China has the capital, technology, market, enterprises, talents, and development experience”, he says, adding that both countries complement respective strengths, and need each other for cooperation and development.

The seminar brought together journalists, Liberian graduates from Chinese institutions and members of the Liberian Association of Chinese Trained Scholars or LACTS.

Amb. ZHANG explains that currently, China-Liberia comprehensive partnership maintains robust momentum, and relations are in their best historical moment, faced with new historical opportunities.

“Both China and Liberia have always given each other mutual understanding and mutual support on our respective interests and major concerns, and have together firmly upheld our shared interests”, says the Chinese Envoy.

He notes that both countries are now faced with enormous opportunities to synergize strengths in economic cooperation.The embassy hosts the seminar here at the time the country’s leadership is transitioning from first female President and Nobel Laureate, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who ends two terms in office, to President-elect, and former soccer icon, George Weah.

President-elect Weah won the December 26, 2017 runoff presidential election with 61.5 percent of the total votes cast against Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s 38.5 percent.

Liberia is a tiny country in West Africa with a landscape of 45,000 square miles and population of four million people, founded in 1847 by freed slaves from America.

China remains a very strong partner to Liberia, contributing in all areas of the country’s development agenda particularly, human capacity building, infrastructure, health, and bilateral cooperation.

The 19th Communist Party of China National Congress sets out to pursue a new type of international relations, featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation, and a community with shared future for mankind.

By Jonathan Browne