Chinese President Hu Jintao will pay a state visit to Liberia
beginning Feb. 1, which is to be the first visit by a Chinese
president since the two countries reestablished diplomatic
relations in October 2003.
The visit, which comes at a time when China-Liberia relationship
grows steadily, will usher in a new stage of bilateral
cooperation.
Relations between the two countries can date back to 1971 when
Liberia supported the resumption of China's membership to the
United Nations. But bilateral ties suffered two setbacks in 1989
and 1997 due to then Liberian government's stance over the "Taiwan
issue," which incumbent Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
referred to as "narrow and short-term considerations by previous
Liberian governments."
The two countries have conducted fruitful cooperation in the
fields of economy and trade, culture, education and health since
the resumption of diplomatic ties in 2003.
President Sirleaf was the first African leader to arrive in
Beijing to attend the summit of the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation held on Nov. 4-5 last year and paid a state visit to
China in late October and early November.
During her stay in Beijing, the two countries agreed to continue
developing their friendly cooperation. President Sirleaf expressed
hope to intensify trade and investment cooperation with China to
benefit its people.
During the period when the two countries had diplomatic
relations, the Chinese government provided aid as far as its
capacity allowed, and helped Liberia build some complete projects,
such as the Barreke Sugar Mill, Kpatawee rice project,
multi-purpose sports stadium and its annex, wasteland reclamation,
hospital renovation, and the office building of the Health
Ministry, which have won applause from all walks of life in the
West African country.
China also encourages its enterprises to invest in Liberia in
such areas as resources exploitation, agriculture, fishery,
infrastructure construction and commerce.
Statistics showed that two-way trade, which has witnessed steady
growth in recent years, totaled US$375 million in the first 11
months of 2006, a 155 percent increase on the previous year.
China has also been actively participating in the peace process
in Liberia and its reconstruction by sending peacekeepers, aid
groups and experts. As the peace process moves forward in Liberia,
the mutual cooperation is expected to develop further.
(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2007)
