By: Anthony Q. Jiffan, II
In the wake of China’s numerous contributions to Liberia, Vice President, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor has described the People’s Republic China as “True Friend to Liberia.”
Vice president Taylor said the government and people of China have contributed to the development of Liberia and continue to support Liberians and other African countries in meeting some of their basic needs.
She made the disclosure when Chinese Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Fu Jijun presented on behalf of his country two Vehicles, four desktop computers, four laptop computers and two printers to the group of 77 in Liberia.
Madam Howard-Taylor named some the projects implemented in Liberia by the Chinese Government as the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, two annexes of the Capitol Building, the building at Robert International Airport, roads across the country, amongst others, indicating that Liberia will continue to be a friend of China.
The Vice President and former First Lady of Liberia lauded the Chinese Ambassador for the contributions made to the Group of 77, indicating that the China’s help to Liberia is huge and cannot be forgetting.
She said it is her hope that the relations subsisting between the physically challenged in China and the Group of 77 in Liberia will grow to the extent of help in improving the living condition of people living with disability in Liberia.
She told the Chinese Ambassador that the Group of 77 has oversight responsibility over people living with disabilities in the country and are charged with the authority to gather those people especially individuals that cannot help themselves to do anything.
According to her, the government has identified an area that was constructed in Bentol during the administration of president Tolbert for the relocation of the Group of 77 from Central Monrovia which will give the space as compare to their current location, but added that the place has broken down and need rebuilding.
“We want to do all we can to create more space for our disable people by getting them from central town to an environment where they can have a better living” VP Taylor said.
Presenting the items, Chinese Ambassador Fu Jijun said it is important to help underprivileged people, especially those with disabilities who cannot help themselves in term of getting basic needs to sustain their lives.
He said the government and people of the People’s Republic China will continue help Liberia Group of 77 and reaffirmed China’s commitment to helping Liberia with its quest for development.
The Chinese diplomat also pledged his country’s commitment to supporting the of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Government‘s Pro-Poor Agenda, as well as the Jewel Starfish Foundation recently launched in the country.
He said the Group of 77 has made great effort in taking care of the disable people and their welfare, a reason which, according to him, prompted the donation so as to buttress their effort in catering for people living with disabilities in Liberia.