China Ready To Help Liberia

The Premier of China’s State Council (Prime Minister), Li Keqiang has assured President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that China is ready to help Liberia progress, especially after the Ebola crisis. He agreed with the Liberian leader that investment in agriculture in addition to fishery, wood processing and manufacturing complimented by a massive re-planting program as well as the establishment of processing industries to add value to the many natural resources the country is endowed with, can certainly transform Liberia.

According to a dispatch, the Chinese Premier gave the assurance during a meeting with President Sirleaf at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Thursday.

Premier Keqiang indicated that China has effective technologies for high yield in agro-business and rice production, which when harnessed, can help Liberia create jobs, ensure food sufficiency and achieve food security.

He hoped that China-Liberia relations can be of mutual benefits or a win-win situation for both countries. Premier Keqiang thanked President Sirleaf for her second State Visit to China and expressed satisfaction that she was able to hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, discuss several areas of partnership and cooperation and sign three bilateral agreements.

He assured her that all outstanding projects in Liberia will be fully implemented as scheduled. “We are well informed about Liberia’s history and characteristics and recall that China was far worse than Liberia after its own wars,” said Premier Keqiang.

Meanwhile, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has highlighted the formulation of the Post-Ebola Economic Stabilization Plan to reverse the current state of the country, and emphasized strong partnership with China through private sector companies to help revive the economy.

President Sirleaf made the statement during high-level meetings with the Premier of China’s State Council (Prime Minister), Li Keqiang, and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (Speaker of the Congress) Zhang Dejiang at the Great Hall of the People.

The meetings marked the conclusion of her State Visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). President Sirleaf called on the two high ranking Chinese officials for collaboration and support in four key areas, including the fast-tracking and completion of all outstanding projects, investment in the mining, fishery and agricultural sectors as well as the processing of felled rubber wood into valuable furniture and value addition to rubber product.

The Liberian leader indicated that intervention in these areas will help boost the economy and provide thousands of jobs for Liberians. She also sought Chinese investors’ interest in a steel production industry as a means of ensuring that value addition to iron ore can take place in Liberia in addition to the exportation of the iron ore.

The Liberian leader recalled the longstanding relations between the two countries, which was renewed and strengthened by the current Liberian Government and that over the years China has “done very well for Liberia and its people.”

She also recalled that when the Ebola disease struck Liberia, China’s immediate and subsequent assistance help lead to the defeat of the virus. In his response, Premier Keqiang thanked President Sirleaf for her second State Visit to China and expressed satisfaction that she was able to hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, discuss several areas of partnership and cooperation and sign three bilateral agreements.