By Wilfred S. Gortor
MONROVIA, March 27 (LINA) – With greater prospects for the future, the long-standing bilateral ties subsisting between China and Liberia continue to grow from strength-to-strength amid the injection of new vitality into Beijing-Monrovia corporation, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, Yin Chengwu has affirmed that China-Liberia relations have grown increasingly mature and resilient.
Ambassador Yin said China is a reliable friend and partner to Liberia, confirming that under the strategic guidance of the presidents of the two countries, “exchanges at all levels have become more dynamic, practical cooperation has yielded even more fruitful results, and the people of China and Liberia have developed deeper mutual understanding and affinity between them.
Speaking during a Media Roundtable Discussion held Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Chinese Embassy near Monrovia, Ambassador Yin said since assuming office, President Boakai has consistently upheld the One-China principle and vigorously advanced the development of bilateral relations between China and Liberia.
He recalled that in September of 2024, President Boakai was invited to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where he and President Xi jointly announced the elevation of China-Liberia relations to a strategic partnership, marking a new era in the bilateral ties.
“Over the past year, many cabinet ministers, President Pro Tempore Lawrence and other parliamentarians, have visited China on various occasions. Additionally, Unity Party Chairman Hon. Luther Tarpeh, Monrovia Mayor Hon. John-Charuk Siafa and Superintendent of Maryland County Hon. Henry Cole, have successively visited China,” he said.
Conversely, the Chinese envoy referenced that President Xi’s special envoy, Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attended President Boakai’s inauguration ceremony, while China’s Vice Governor of Jiangxi Province, Yuan Qinhua, and president of the All- China Students’ Federation, Xuhui, have also visited Liberia.
According to him, many mutual visits between China and Liberia at different levels are expected to occur in 2025.
Commenting on economic, trade and other development initiatives, Ambassador Yin cited that China is committed to promoting bilateral trade and investment, actively driving trade growth and investment-led development, increasing employment opportunities in Liberia, and fostering national progress.
He said with the ongoing benefits of China’s zero-tariff policy, it is anticipated that more products originating from Liberia will enter the Chinese market, further expanding bilateral trade volume.
Referencing the gains made because of the existing zero-tariff policy between the two nations, Ambassador Yin stressed that Liberia exported US$6.524 million of rubber and products to China from September to December 2024, an increase of more than 29 times compared with US$222.185 thousand in the same period of 2023.
China, he said, has extended invitations to Liberian businesses and enterprises to participate in major exhibitions such as the Shanghai Import Expo, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, and the Canton Fair, which are also platforms for expanding trade and investment.
The Chinese envoy disclosed that this year, China will steadily push forward 18 specific projects, including: China-Aid Project of Refurbishment and Expansion of the Liberia Broadcast System, China-Aid Project of National Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Laboratory, China-Aid Project of the Two Overpass Bridges on Tubman Boulevard, China-Aid Bamboo & Rattan Weaving and vegetable planting program, and the China-Aid Police supplies Program.
Additionally, he named the China-Aid Project of Liberia Agriculture Modernization and Mechanization, China-Aid Program for Human Resource Capacity building and the project of Chinese Medical Team (including China-Aid Project for the Establishment of a Cardiovascular Department at the JFK hospital).
On the educational front, Ambassador Yin said the Chinese Government provided about 70 scholarship opportunities to Liberia in 2024 and continue to do so in 2025, adding that China will also promote other people-to-people exchange.
As 2025 marks the beginning of the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC and the official launch of Liberia’s AAID and County Development Agendas (CDAs), Ambassador Yin said China is committed to working with Liberia to follow the six major proposals for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization and the ten partnership actions put forward by President Xi.
He Added: “We will strengthen the alignment of our development strategies, continue to support each other on issues concerning our core interests and major concerns, and further enhance coordination and cooperation in international affairs. Together, we will strive to achieve more fruitful results in practical cooperation and elevate the China-Liberia strategic partnership to new heights.”
