Monrovia, Liberia – Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), met Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. Friday to show China’s readiness to assist in the development projects in many sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy, health, among others.
President Xi said China would assist Liberia to execute the outcomes of the recently held 2024 Summit of the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, People’s Republic of China by means of strategic cooperation and mutual benefits.
Under a friendly attitude between both sides, President Boakai called to the Government of the PRC for collaboration in the fields of road development, renewable energy, agricultural development, city planning, among others.
In particular with reference to the recent implementation of China Aid for a Liberia Broadcasting System’s sophisticated to extend radio and television broadcasting across Liberia utilizing contemporary technology, he hailed the Chinese President for his continuous support of Liberia. He also praised President Xi for postponing loan default interest of US$6.5 million.
President Xi revealed that China’s support to Liberia would be in the areas of infrastructure development as well as establish bilateral cooperation in the areas of maritime shipping, agriculture and resource development, national clinical reference laboratory, national power grid and solar energy as Liberia is headed towards the road of sustainable development with more than 20 years of constant peace and security.
Along with pledging US$100 million for road finance to be discussed between the two countries, the Chinese leader announced a US$ 28.2 million grant to Liberia, equivalent to RMB 200 million.
President Xi revealed China’s strategic assistance program for Africa by pledging US$50 billion for the continent’s development over the next three years in the areas of trade, industrial development and partnership cooperation, healthcare, agriculture and livelihood, green development through 30 clean energy projects, common security, among others.
He said that the projected start of the overhead bridges between the ministerial complex and SKD Boulevard would be in the first quarter of 2025. Along with supplying agricultural tools and machinery, scholarships for human capacity building, he also promised to establish a national clinical reference laboratory to improve the delivery of health care.
Globally, the two nations decided to preserve and promote collaboration in peace and security as well as in development.
Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Sara Beysolow-Nyanti; Sylvester M. Grigsby, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs; Roland Layfette Giddings, Minister of Public Works; J. Alexander Nuetah, Minister of Agriculture; Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism; Amin Modad, Minister of Commerce and Industry; Wilmot Paye, Minister of Mines and Energy; D. McKinley Thomas, Ambassador of Liberia to the PRC formed part of President Boakai’s delegation at the Friday’s Bilateral Meeting.
Liberia and PRC signed diplomatic ties on February 17, 1977, which has helped the two nations ever since; and Liberia passed legislation reaffirming its stance to a One-China Policy-a relations that has been developed and consolidated via mutual cooperation and support on October 12, 2003.
