Liberia is the first republic on the African continent, and China and Libya established diplomatic relations on February 17, 1977. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Liberia 45 years ago, the relationship between the two countries has gone through many times. Since the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2003, China-Liberia relations have developed smoothly. China has always carried out practical cooperation with Liberia in line with the concept of "truth, realism, amity and sincerity" and the correct concept of justice and interests. In recent years, the political mutual trust between the two countries has been continuously improved, the high-level exchanges have maintained a strong momentum, and the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the fields of politics, economy, security, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges have achieved a series of tangible results. The Chinese government has also sent peacekeeping troops, military observers and civilian police to participate in the UN peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, making important contributions to building peace and maintaining stability in Lebanon.

After the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Liberia, Liberia affirmed its adherence to the one-China principle in the form of legislation, which has effectively consolidated the political foundation of the two countries. President George Weah and people from all walks of life in Liberia are generally friendly to China, praised China's great economic and social achievements, and hoped that Liberia-China cooperation will help the Liberian people realize the vision of building peace, developing economy and eradicating poverty. In 2018, President Weah led a delegation to China to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and held a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping, laying a solid foundation for the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Liberia. In 2021, President Weah sent a letter to President Xi Jinping to warmly congratulate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Since taking office in 2018, President Weah has attended the National Day reception held by our embassy every year and delivered a warm speech. He praised China's development achievements, spoke highly of the friendship between Liberia and China, thanked China for its contribution to Liberia's development and construction, and hoped that President Xi Jinping The Belt and Road Initiative advocated by him has strengthened the connection with the "pro-poor agenda of prosperity and development" advocated by him.

China-Libya pragmatic cooperation yields fruitful results

In recent years, with the joint efforts of China and Liberia, the cooperation results of the "Eight Actions" of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation have benefited the governments and peoples of the two countries. Projects such as the Chinese-aided government office building, the annex building of the Parliament Building, 50 water wells, and the Roberts Airport Terminal Building with preferential loans were successfully completed. Among them, the government office building, which won the Luban Prize for China Construction Engineering, was the second largest building undertaken by China in Africa at that time when it was completed in 2019. The China-aided SKD Stadium is the venue for important international and domestic events and large-scale gatherings in Liberia. The inauguration ceremony of President Weah was held here in 2018. He said that the aid project had witnessed his successful sports and political career, and thanked him in Chinese. China. The new terminal building of Leigh Roberts Airport has changed the image of Leigh's backward international airport, and effectively improved the service level and efficiency of Leigh Airways. At present, projects such as the Tubman Avenue overpass in the capital of Liberia, the Soma-Xinke road and bridge, and the clinical diagnosis and treatment laboratory of the 14th Military Hospital are progressing smoothly.

The China-aided Human Resource Training Project is an important brand project for China to cultivate talents in various fields. The Chinese government provides about 50 full scholarships, hundreds of short-term training places and more than 100 "Chinese Ambassador Scholarships" to Liberia every year. As of 2021, China has provided Liberia with about 570 Chinese government scholarships, about 1,000 short-term training opportunities in China, and dispatched experts to Liberia to carry out police and vocational training courses. Since its implementation in Liberia for eight years, the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship Program has sponsored nearly 1,000 local college students in Liberia to complete their studies.

The Chinese government has also carried out technical assistance projects for bamboo and rattan weaving and vegetable cultivation, agricultural demonstration center, SKD stadium, national radio station, and mineral resources survey. These training programs have trained and reserved more than 2,500 technical experts in various fields such as agriculture, sports, radio and television, and geology, greatly promoting youth employment and promoting economic and social development of Liberia. In addition, China International Radio and TV programs are neatly implemented, and the Confucius Institute actively disseminates Chinese language and culture, playing an active role in promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges and friendship between China and Liberia. Li people's enthusiasm for learning Chinese has also increased. When I communicated with President Weah and the people of Liberia, they often said "Hello!" and "Thank you!" in Chinese.

In 2014, after the Ebola epidemic broke out in Liberia, the Chinese government was the first to help Liberia. By providing cash exchange and dispatching chartered flights, a large number of anti-epidemic materials and hundreds of medical team members were sent to Liberia. China has assisted Liberia to build an Ebola treatment center and is building a clinical diagnosis and treatment laboratory. In 2020, since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, the Chinese government has dispatched four batches of aid to Liberia with a large amount of anti-epidemic materials, as well as a large amount of medical equipment and medicines to the 14th Military Hospital and Kennedy Hospital in Liberia. So far, China has dispatched 14 batches of medical teams to aid Liberia, and they are not afraid of difficulties to deliver medicine and medicine to the Liberian people.

Liberia is rich in natural resources such as iron ore, gold, diamonds, natural rubber, timber, oil palm, and agriculture and fisheries. An important partner in the development of mineral resources, forestry and fishery in Africa. In addition, Lily is located on the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean in West Africa, with obvious geographical advantages and many natural ports. It is the second largest country of flag of convenience in the world, and the import and export of goods is convenient by sea. As the gateway of the West African Economic Community, the market has great potential and provides an excellent maritime channel for Chinese enterprises to enter Africa and implement the Belt and Road cooperation initiative.

The mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Benefit is an important part of the China-Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. In the first half of 2021, the bilateral trade volume was US$2.520 billion, and China's investment in Liberia was US$12.13 million. The market in Liberia is small. There are 19 state-owned and state-controlled enterprises that China has invested in and cooperated with in Liberia. The industries are distributed in mining, construction, forestry, fishery, civil explosion, information and communication industry, logistics, etc., mainly engaged in mining development, project contracting, etc. There are about 50 private and individual-invested enterprises in commercial activities such as road and bridge construction and forestry development, mainly engaged in the wholesale of daily necessities, groceries, clothing, shoes and hats, hardware and electrical machinery, and building materials. At present, China's key investment projects in Liberia mainly include the Bangzhou iron ore project controlled by Baowu Group, the Bomishan iron ore project invested by Henan International Cooperation Group Co., Ltd., and the Gezhouba Yipuli explosive production project.

Liberia actively participates in China-Africa cooperation mechanism

Liberia is a participant and contributor to cooperation mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Cooperation Initiative. In 2018, President Weah was invited to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and held bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping. In 2019, when Minister of State McGill went to China to attend the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, on behalf of the Liberian government, he signed a memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries with the Chinese side. In 2020, Liberia will become a member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the economic and trade cooperation between China and Liberia will gain new momentum. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China's Belt and Road Initiative has achieved effective alignment with Liberia's "prosperity and development pro-poor agenda". Practical cooperation in education, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and anti-epidemic cooperation has yielded fruitful results. Most major infrastructure projects in Liberia are constructed by Chinese companies, including the 180-kilometer road from Monrovia to Banga, the 68.6-kilometer road restoration on the Banga-Ganta-Guinea border, the 50-kilometer road from Carlocken to Harper, and the renovation of Roberts Airport. Upgrading, upgrading of container yard in Monrovia port, dismantling and new construction of oil tank of Li National Power Company, power transmission and transformation in four West African countries, etc. A large number of Chinese state-owned and private enterprises are building infrastructure and investing in factories in Liberia. It can be said that the China-Africa cooperation mechanism has made great contributions to the sustainable economic and social development of Liberia.

The 8th Ministerial Level of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation brings new opportunities for China-Liberia pragmatic cooperation

At present, the new crown epidemic is still raging around the world. China-Liberia cooperation has both opportunities and challenges, but the opportunities outweigh the challenges. In November 2021, the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was successfully held in Senegal. The conference brought new opportunities for China-Liberia practical cooperation and will promote the friendly relations between the two countries to a new level. It is believed that with the implementation of the "Nine Major Projects" announced by President Xi Jinping at this meeting, the cooperation between China and Liberia will surely go deeper and deeper, and Liberia will continue to obtain huge economic and social benefits from China-Africa cooperation.

In the new era, we will take the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Liberia as an opportunity to continue to adhere to the policy concept of "truth, realism, amity and sincerity" in cooperation with Africa, under the framework of the new blueprint of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Belt and Road Cooperation Initiative and the Global Development Initiative , strengthen the strategic alignment of the "prosperity and development pro-poor agenda" with Liberia, jointly implement the "nine major projects" of China-Africa cooperation, continuously promote the friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Liberia, continue to benefit the governments and people of the two countries, and work together to build a shared responsibility and cooperation. A China-Africa and China-Liberia community with a shared future, featuring win-win, shared happiness, shared cultural prosperity, shared security, and harmonious coexistence, set an example for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.Editor/XuNing