The Liberian Government has invited a technical delegation from Equatorial Guinea to Monrovia in early June after both governments agreed on May 21, 2013 to arrange the financing and construction of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) and social housing in Liberia.

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in Malibo between Liberia and Equatorial Guinea on 21 May, both governments agreed that to begin the realization of the projects, their technical committees would meet in a fortnight to define and study the relevant projects and adopt modalities of their financing and implementation.

An Executive Mansion release said Liberia’s Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Lewis G. Brown II, signed on behalf of the Liberian Government, while Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. Agapito Mba Mokuy, signed for his Government. The release said the signing ceremony was witnessed by Equatorial Guinea President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

The Executive Mansion said a joint Communiqué issued at the end of the Liberian leader’s State Visit to Equatorial Guinea from May 19 to 21, said the visit came within the framework of the will and commitment expressed by both Heads of State to strengthen the excellent relations of friendship and brotherhood that unite the two countries.

The release said the two African leaders during the visit, exchanged views on several topics of international concern, with special emphasis on the reform of the United Nations, global economic crisis, changes in climatic conditions and situations in Mali and Central Africa.

At the bilateral level, both Heads of State expressed satisfaction that the areas of cooperation agreed upon were directly related to the basic needs of their people, and designed to contribute to the promotion of the human, social and economic development of both countries.

Within the spirit of South-South cooperation, as well as the need to promote cooperation in the private sectors of both countries, the two Heads of State also expressed their willingness to further deepen the cooperation between the two countries, agreeing to conclude in the shortest possible time, the first meeting of the Joint Cooperation Commission.

Both countries had previously signed an Economic, Commercial, Scientific, Cultural and Technical Cooperation Framework Agreement on June 9, 2009.

At the international level the two Heads of State agreed on the need to support African and global initiatives for the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts, respect for the Charter of the United Nations and African Union, independence and sovereignty of States, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

The two Heads of State reaffirmed the need to strengthen the role of the United Nations through its reform and as a priority, to increase the representation of developing countries in the Security Council by expanding the categories of permanent and non-permanent members, for more efficiency, increased legitimacy and a balanced representation of the world.

President Sirleaf extended an invitation to her host, President Nguema Mbasogo, to visit Liberia, which he agreed with satisfaction. The date of the visit will be concluded through diplomatic channels.