Monday, January 22, 2007

As Chinese President Visit Liberia More Chinese Investors Arrives


The President of the People's Republic of China, Hu Jintao accompanied by his wife and an impressive delegation is expected to pay an official visit to Liberia nex month, February 1, 2007.

At the same time several investors from that country have become to arrive in the country, making the discliosure last week the Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, Lin Songtian, said these Chinese investors are gearing up to come and invest in the postwar economy of Liberia.
Ambassador Songtian said as the political, cultural and economic ties between Liberia and the People Republic of China strengthen, “more and more Chinese investors are coming to invest in Liberia to help develop the country”.
Speaking recently at the University of Liberia main campus in Monrovia where six Liberians graduated from studies in the Chinese language, Ambassador Songtian indicated that the Chinese investors are eying various sectors of the Liberian economy for possible investment.
He said the learning of the Chinese language by Liberians was a very important and positive as many Chinese would be coming to interact with Liberians on both business and diplomatic fronts, adding, that the language barrier must be broken for effective communication.
The Chinese ambassador was addressing an intellectual forum organized by the University of Liberia Student Union following the graduation program.
Ambassador Songtian noted that with rapid economic development, China has created a huge number of enterprises that are capable of investing out of China.
“The Chinese government has committed herself to encouraging and supporting Chinese enterprises by offering incentive policies and financial support (in the tune of US$5billion) to conduct their mutually beneficial and win-win operation in Africa to seek our common development,” the Ambassador said.
He said under such a policy, more and more Chinese investors will rush to African countries, with post war Liberia being no exception.
“Now,” the Chinese envoy averred, “the ball is in your court, Business is business. You have to think about how to attract them to come and sustain them here.”
“Meanwhile, China will continue to render all possible assistances within its last capacities to help Liberia, especially in the fields of education, and human resource development, capacity building, agriculture, health care, infrastructure and processing industries,” the Ambassador said.
He said the Chinese government will keep its agricultural and medical experts in Liberia saying more experts will come to introduce new knowledge and technology to Liberia.
Ambassador Songtian disclosed that a group of bamboo weaving experts have arrived in Monrovia and will commence a training program in the country soon.
Besides, the Chinese envoy indicated that we will set up and equip a center for malaria prevention and testing at the JFK Hospital as well as build three laboratories for computer, soil testing and civil engineering at the Fendall Campus of the University of Liberia.”
He then expressed optimism in seeking some Chinese teachers and professors, who will assist to teach in the areas of Chinese language, Science and technology, such as computer, and engineering science and agriculture at the UL.
UL President Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh who attended the two exercises commended the Chinese for their remarkable assistance to Liberia and the UL in particular. He said the UL looks forward to a greater collaboration with the People’s Republic of China.

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