China-Liberia - Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Toga Gayewea Mcintosh, on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 signed a Cooperation Agreement on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Liberia with the Vice Minister of Commerce, People’s Republic of China (PRC), Mr. Fu Ziyang, for a Grant of 50 million RMB (Yuan). According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Liberian Foreign Minister, currently in the capital of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing, said the Grant will be used for projects to be agreed on by the two governments. The two ministers also signed an Exchange of Notes for two projects; specifically, the construction of 50 bore holes (water wells) in Montserrado, Margibi and Bomi counties and for the installation of solar traffic lights throughout the City of Monrovia.

It can be recalled that in April 2010, Mr. Fu Ziyang led a high level delegation to Liberia where he signed a number of Cooperation Agreements with the Government of Liberia.

The Minister also held extensive discussions with his counterpart, His Excellency Yang Jieich, Minister of Foreign Affairs, PRC on Liberia-China relations and reviewed the international situation especially with respect to reforming the United Nations Security Council and the on-going crisis in the region, specifically the turmoil in Ivory Coast and Libya.

Later In the day, Dr. Gayewea McIntosh met with the Vice President of the PRC, His Excellency Xi Jinping.

On Thursday, Liberia’s Foreign Minister and delegation will meet with the officials of the Chinese Foreign Affairs University here in Beijing to initiate cooperation between the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the China Foreign Affairs University. The Liberian Foreign Minister is specifically interested in building the man-power capacity and expertise on China within the Liberia’s Foreign Ministry.

Dr. Gayewea McIntosh and delegation will then depart Beijing for the province of Whan where they will meet with executives of the Whan Steel Corporation which owns majority shares in the China Union Project, formerly Bong Mining Company. While there, they will also meet with the political leaders of the province.

On April 2nd, 2011, the Foreign Minister and his delegation will travel on to Shanghai where they will tour some agricultural projects and visit the Expo Pavilion.

The Liberian delegation, which also includes Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration,  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sylvester Grigsby; Assistant Minister for Planning and Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Osman Tall, and Aide, Mr. William Gyude Moore,  departs Shanghai, China  for Monrovia on April 3rd, 2011.

The Analyst/31/03/2011