Liberia Government (Monrovia)
9 November 2009
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said on November 9 that Liberia's development has been greatly impacted by the measures implemented by China under the China-Africa Cooperation initiative.
The President was addressing the 4th Ministerial Conference of the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which opened November 8 at the Maritim Jolie Ville Sharm El Sheikh International Congress Center. The two-day Conference concludes on November 9.
In her remarks, the Liberian President highlighted the many ways in which Liberia has benefited from the partnership with China, which include: contributions to Liberia's debt relief program under the HIPC arrangement; the establishment of an Anti-Malaria Center and malaria teams at the JFK Medical Center; the construction of new facilities at the University of Liberia campus, a modern hospital at Tappita and an Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center to train technicians and farmers; three modern primary schools in high-population communities in Bomi and Montserrado counties; participation in the UN peacekeeping force and the construction of military barracks for the army; youth volunteers to serve in Liberia; and scholarships to over 100 Liberian students to attend universities in China.
The President went on to say that Liberia continues to encourage Chinese business entities to invest in the country's vast natural resources and to join in private sector endeavors. Liberia counts China as a friend and strategic partner, the President said, and would continue to strengthen the relationship through bilateral and multilateral programs.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was among 18 heads of state and government and other ranking officials to address the Conference's opening ceremony. President Hosni Mubarak, Co-Chair of FOCAC and host of this year's Conference, and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, the other Co-Chair, opened the Conference.
Also addressing the opening session were the presidents of Zimbabwe, Uganda, Sudan, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Central African Republic, and Tanzania; the prime ministers of Ethiopia, Côte d'Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the vice presidents of Seychelles, Ghana, and Burundi; the President of the National Assembly of Gabon; and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. African leaders listened attentively to hear what new measures China would announce, three years after President Hu Jintao had announced eight specific measures to enhance cooperation with Africa during the 2006 Beijing Summit of FOCAC.
Chinese Premier Wen outlined 10 new interventions his Government intended to implement in furtherance of FOCAC, which include: a China-Africa partnership to address climate change by building 100 clean energy projects across Africa; enhancing cooperation with Africa in science and energy by building 100 joint demonstration projects in science and technology; and offering 100 post-doctoral fellowships for research in science and energy. In addition, China would provide USD$10 billion in concessional loans to Africa, part of which would support Chinese facilities working with small and medium businesses (SMBs). For highly indebted poor and least developed African countries having diplomatic relations with China, that government would cancel all debts expiring at the end of 2009.
In agriculture, China would increase the number of Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centers to 20; send 50 agriculture technical teams to Africa; and 2,000 agricultural personnel from Africa would be trained in China. In the health sector, China would provide equipment valued at 500 million Yuan to hospitals built by the Chinese, and would train 3,000 doctors for Africa. In education, it would build 50 China-Africa Friendship Schools; train 1,500 principals and teachers; increase the number of scholarships to 5,500; and train 20,000 professionals across various disciplines over three years (2010-2012). There would also be a joint China-Africa Exchange Program.
Following the opening ceremony, President Johnson Sirleaf was among the dignitaries who attended the inauguration and tour of a photo exhibition on the achievements of the follow-up actions of the Beijing Summit of FOCAC 2006 and the activities of the Egyptian Fund for Technical Cooperation with Africa. The President then attended a luncheon hosted by the Egyptian President in honor of the invited heads of state and government and ministers.
Prior to leaving Sharm El Sheikh to return home, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf held bilateral talks with her Egyptian counterpart, President Hosni Mubarak.
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