China Ready To Support Liberia’s Development -Chinese President Xi Tells President Boakai

The President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Xi Jinping, on Friday held a Bilateral Meeting with Liberian President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., where he conveyed China’s readiness to work with and support Liberia’s development efforts in several areas – including infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy, health, among others.

President Xi said China would work with Liberia to implement the outcomes of the recently held 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, People’s Republic of China through mutual benefits and strategic partnership.

The meeting, characterized by a spirit of warm hospitality between both sides, President Boakai appealed to the Government of the PRC for support in the area of road development, renewable energy, agricultural development, city planning, among others.

He thanked the Chinese President for his continued assistance to Liberia especially the recent launch of China Aid for a Liberia Broadcasting System’s complex to expand radio and television broadcasting throughout Liberia with modern technology. He also thanked President Xi for the cancellation of US$6.5 million debt default interest on loans.

As Liberia is moving towards the path of sustainable development with more than 20 years of constant peace and security, President Xi disclosed that China’s support to Liberia would be in the areas of infrastructural 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.

The Chinese leader announced a US$ 28.2 million grant to Liberia, equivalent to RMB 200 million, as well as committed US$100 million for road financing to be negotiated by the two countries.

President Xi unveiled China’s strategic assistance program for Africa by committing 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 reaffirmed to continue the overhead bridges between the ministerial complex and SKD Boulevard, which is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025. He also committed to building a national clinical reference laboratory to boost health care delivery, providing agricultural equipment and machineries, scholarships for human capacity building.

On the international front, the two countries agreed to maintain and foster cooperation in global development, peace and security.

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 along with Liberia’s Ambassador to the PRC, D. McKinley Thomas formed part of President Boakai’s delegation  at the Friday’s Bilateral Meeting.

On February 17, 1977, Liberia and PRC established diplomatic relations which continues to benefit the two countries; and Liberia, on October 12, 2003, enacted a law reaffirming its position to a One-China Policy  – a relations that has been fostered and consolidated through mutual partnership and support.