China recommits support to Liberia

Chinese President Xi Jinping, has reiterated that the People’s Republic of China, “stands with Liberia in exerting every effort to defeat the deadly Ebola Virus.”

(R-L) Chinese President, H.E. XI Jinping receives Liberian Ambassador Accredited to China, H.E. Mr. Dudley McKinley Thomas’ Letters of Credence)

President Xi Jinping made the statement when he received the newly appointed Liberian Ambassador to China, His Excellency, Dudley McKinley Thomas.

According to a press release, Ambassador Thomas, who is one of Liberia’s most experienced diplomats and a senior Ambassador, presented his Letters of Credence to the Chinese President at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 15, 2014.

The Chinese President welcomed the Liberian Ambassador to China, saying, “Mr. Ambassador, I am certain that by the mere fact, President Sirleaf chose you to be her Ambassador to China shows that she has great confidence in you”.

The President assured Ambassador Thomas that he will receive the full cooperation of all of the various agencies and other authorities of the Chinese government in helping to ensure the success of his mission.

He then asked the Liberian envoy to convey his personal best wishes to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and to inform her that China stands with Liberia and will do whatever it takes to help Liberia defeats the deadly Ebola virus.

Ambassador Thomas in presenting his Letters of Credence to the Chinese Leader    conveyed  heartfelt thanks and appreciation on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Government and the People of Liberia  for the solidarity demonstrated by the Chinese Government, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, in providing urgently needed assistance, in various forms, including direct financial assistance to the Government of Liberia, to combat the deadly Ebola virus which has claimed and is still claiming so many precious lives.

“Mr. President, China is a proven-true friend of Liberia and of Africa. Indeed, your nation continues to demonstrate that, its multi-faceted bilateral cooperation with Liberia,  is undergirded by mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty, and is strongly embedded in a genuine sense of true partnership”, Ambassador Thomas remarked.  He asserted that it is the true partnership from which the good relations between both countries draw its strength.

A dispatch from the Liberian Mission in China said Ambassador Thomas informed   Chinese President Xi about his desire to devote all of his energies and talents to build upon and further strengthen and expand cooperation at every level between Liberia and China.

The Liberian Ambassador was accompanied to the ‘Great Hall of the People’ for the presentation ceremony by Mr. Jimmy Barchue, First Secretary and Consul and Mrs. Judy Nyangbe, Second Secretary and Vice Consul of the Liberian Embassy in China.

Prior to his assignment to this very important post, Ambassador Thomas served as Liberia’s Ambassador to France with concurrent accreditation to Spain, the Hellenic Republic of Greece, the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Portugal, for almost ten (10) years.

In addition, he was an Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Liberia to the United Nations, Geneva and Ambassador/Permanent Delegate of Liberia to UNSECO, Paris, France, respectively.