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China and Liberia
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2011/08/22 |
The friendly and cooperative relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Liberia flourished in 2010. The two countries enjoyed close high-level exchanges. On 12 August, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, sent a message of condolences to President Hu Jintao, following the devastating flood and landslides in Zhouqu, Gansu province. From 18 to 26 August, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Vice President of Liberia, came to China for the National Pavilion Day events of Liberia during the Shanghai World Expo. From 30 September to 6 October, J. Alex Tyler, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Liberia, attended the National Pavilion Day events of China during the Shanghai World Expo. During his stay in China, NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo met with him. Speaker Tyler spoke highly of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, hoped to strengthen exchanges between the two legislatures and expand cooperation in all fields. From 20 to 25 January, Olubanke King Akerele, Foreign Minister of Liberia, visited China. Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with him. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi had talks with him. Foreign Minister Akerele thanked China for its assistance to Liberia and expessed readiness to have closer friendly relations with China, expand practical cooperation and deepen friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The two sides signed an Agreement on the Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Liberia and other cooperation documents. On 23 September, Foreign Minister Akerele attended the second round Political Consultations between Chinese and African Foreign Ministers on the Sidelines of the UN General Assembly at New York. Cooperation in economy and trade yielded fruitful results. The follow-up actions of the FOCAC were fully implemented in Liberia. In April, Fu Ziying, Vice Minister of Commerce, visited Liberia. During his visit, the two sides signed another Agreement on the Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Liberia and other cooperation documents. The Bong Mines, China's largest investment project in Liberia, was officially launched. In July, three projects built with China's assistance, i.e., the Tappita Hospital, the Fendall Campus of the University of Liberia and the Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center, were completed and handed over. In December, Zhou Yuxiao, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, and Liberian Foreign Minister Toga Gayewea McIntosh signed the third Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Liberia on behalf of their respective governments. Exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in other fields were further deepened. In May, Li Weiwei, member of the Standing Committee of CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and Chairperson of the Overseas Friendship Association of Hunan, visited Liberia. Henry Fanbulleh, General Secretary of the Unity Party of Liberia, Richard Tolbert, Chairman of the National Investment Commission of Liberia, and a delegation of female members of parliament visited China separately. The China Radio International and the CCTV English News Channel launched their broadcasting in Liberia successfully.
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