Liberia on Wednesday expressed appreciation for China's help to
Liberia through the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping
operations.
"China contributed enormously to the UN peacekeeping operations
in Liberia, " Liberian Defense Minister Brownie Samukai told his
Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan on Wednesday.
Cao welcomed Samukai at a ceremony before they held talks that
lasted 90 minutes in Beijing.
"China-Liberia relations have turned over a new leaf since the
two countries resumed diplomatic ties in 2003," Cao said.
Military exchanges and cooperation have since been carried out
smoothly, he said.
Samukai said he appreciates the work of Chinese officers
involved in UN peacekeeping operations in Liberia.
"Excellent doctors and engineers have been sent to my country,"
Samukai said.
More than 500 Chinese officers participated in the UN
peacekeeping operations in Liberia, including engineers, doctors
and transportation staff.
So far, China, the largest peace-keeping force contributor of
the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, has
dispatched more than 5,000 soldiers to UN peacekeeping missions.
There are still 1,489 Chinese UN peace-keepers on duty at nine UN
missions.
Lu Yongxiang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress, the country's legislature, on Wednesday
also met with Samukai.
Samukai vowed his country will maintain its one-China
stance.
"Liberia stands by the one-China policy, that is the policy we
will pursue," Brownie Samukai said.
Lu appreciated the Liberian government's adherence to the
one-China policy.
China and Liberia resumed diplomatic ties in October 2003.
China would like to work with Liberia to upgrade cooperation, Lu
said.
Invited by Cao, Samukai started his first visit to China on
Friday.
(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2006)
