Africans In China

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dedicated three high schools constructed by the Chinese government in Bomi and Montserrado counties, describing them as a fulfilled promise.

Speaking Monday at the dedicatory ceremonies, President Johnson Sirleaf said Government will continue to strive to provide affordable and quality education that is accessible to all citizens throughout the country.

The Liberian leader described the dedication of the schools as a fulfillment of some of the promises made to the Liberian people - that education will reach, particularly, those who have been neglected.

In an apparent reference to the dedication of a newly constructed high school in Suehn Meca district, the President said too often development in the area did not benefit the people of Suehn Meca district due to its inaccessibility. “I am delighted that this time, the people of this district, are part of the process,” she emphasized.

The President said the provision of quality education remains at the center of Government’s national development objective, and will continue to ensure that resources are provided to meet that objective.

The Liberian leader praised the partnership between Liberian and its development partners, particularly China and the United States, for their continuous support toward Government’s development agenda. “They have responded to our agenda needs…the schools they are building is responding to what we have planned,” the President asserted.

The schools, President Sirleaf said, were built in response by China, to Government’s agenda needs, in line with Liberia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), which remains at the center of the development agenda of the country.

Liberia’s PRS articulates the Government’s overall vision and major strategies for moving toward rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth and development during the period 2008-2011.

The PRS will be implemented between April 1, 2008 and June 30, 2011 (the end of the 2010/2011 fiscal year). This period is of critical importance as Liberia shifts from post-conflict stabilization to laying the foundation for inclusive and sustainable growth, poverty reduction, and progressing toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the PRS paper states.

The donor-dependent US$1.6bn program is crafted with four major pillars including enhancing peace and national security, governance and the rule of law, economic revitalization and rehabilitation of infrastructures and delivery of basic social services.

Revitalizing and improving the educational system are central under the PRS.

The President acknowledged that schools have not yet been built in many places around the country, but noted that progress has been made in the construction of schools in several parts throughout the country. “We will continue on that path until we reach all the Liberian children,” the President noted.

The Liberian Chief Executive also spoke of other development projects throughout the country, including the construction of the Bopolu-Belle Yella Road, urging citizens and officials of counties benefitting from the projects to maintain and protect them to enable Government attract more assistance to their communities.

“The facilities now belong to us; it is up to us to keep them; to maintain them properly; to protect them and used them properly for the good of the children,’ the Liberian leader admonished a cheering crowd during the dedicatory ceremonies.

Chinese Ambassador, Zhou Yaxiao, whose country aided the construction of the schools, said the construction was in fulfillment of his Government’s promised during the China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing, at which time China pledged to build 0ne-hundred schools in Africa.

“If that in our figure is equally distributed, then Liberian would get two instead of three, but with the extra effort made by Madam President and myself and the Chinese embassy here, Liberia got three,” Ambassador Zhou recalled.

Ambassador Zhou praised President Johnson Sirleaf’s insistence to have one of the schools built in rural Liberia despite the embassies reluctance to do so, given the cost and difficulties involved in transporting construction materials away from Monrovia.

The Chinese ambassador described education as a key to sustainable development, pledging his Government’s continuous support to the educational sector of Government’s national development.

Areas benefitting from the newly constructed schools are Suehn-Meca district, in Bomi County, the New Georgia Community and the Kendeja/Rehab Community in Montserrado County.

Meanwhile, the newly constructed New Georgia High School has been named in honor of the founding father of the Liberia Unification Party, the late William Gabriel Kpolleh.

Announcing the decision, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said the naming of the school in the late Kpolleh’s memory was intended to honor his memory for his sacrifices and dedication toward the educational development of the country.

The late William Gabriel Kpolleh was a school teacher, who taught in Bong and Montserrado Counties, before entering politics in 1985, to contest general and Presidential elections. He was reportedly killed when the civil crisis erupted in Liberia in 1989.

President Johnson Sirleaf is reported to have recommended that the school be named in the late Kpolleh’s honor, resisting an offer to have it named in her honor.

Accepting the honor, Madam Rosetta Kpolleh, who, along with other family members travelled to Monrovia for the event, thanked the President for the recognition bestowed on her late father, and extended heartfelt appreciation on behalf of the Kpolleh family for the noble gesture.

Under the PRS program the government hopes to increase access to quality education by building more schools across the country, equipping them with modern libraries, better sanitary conditions and well as safe drinking water.

Under one of the strategic objectives in the implementation matrix, the PRS seeks to expand access to quality, safe, and hygienic schools. It promises to build 240 primary classrooms (40 schools) and 54 secondary classrooms (4 schools); repair 200 primary class rooms (33 schools) and 72 secondary classrooms (6 schools); construct 14,150 chairs and 82 well water wells with hand pumps.

However most of these are yet to be done and the need for them are dire, but students of the dedicated schools will now learn in a very conducive environment, not worrying about rain or sun like most of their colleagues in other government schools across the country.

(ALLAFRICA)

Monrovia — The government of the People’s Republic of China had done it again, this time completing a major project and turning it over the Liberian government at the cost of US$5.5M.

The Chinese government on Tuesday officially handed over a new military facility - Camp Tubman Military Barracks in Gbarnga, Bong County at an elaborate program graced by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and band of government officials.
The project was done through a bilateral memorandum of Understanding between the Chinese government and the Ministry of National Defense representing the Liberian government.
The memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Liberian Government and the government of the People’s Republic of China through the People’s Liberation Army on July 21, 2007 and provided for the framework of renovation of Camp Tubman Military Barracks.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf cutting the ribbon to the newly renovated barracks Tuesday said the renovation is part of her administration’s commitment to members of the new Armed Forces of Liberia to provide the necessary conditions for the gallant men and women of the army to carry out their work.
The Liberian leader said the renovation of the barrack by the Liberian government through bilateral negotiation with the Republic of China must be reciprocated by the new AFL soldiers with discipline and active participation in the development of the country.

“We are pleased for this facility because it will enable us to meet our commitment to our men and women in arms that would be able to carry their activities freely and professionally under conditions that are acceptable to do their jobs. In return, we expect them to be law-abiding, discipline and participate in our development agenda”, President Sirleaf cautions the new army.
The Liberian leader praised the Chinese government for the assistance and said the growing friendship between Liberia and China is notable based on several development projects ongoing in Liberia been implemented by China.
She said the renovation work was just a small example of the activities that are going on across the country with the support of the People’s Republic of China, adding, “ schools have been built, roads have been built, public buildings have been repaired….we are grateful for the relationship we continue to enjoy with the People’s Republic of China..”

President Sirleaf called on the Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia to use the new military facility properly.
hinese Ambassador to Liberia Zhou Yuxiao said the cooperation between the two Armed forces of both Liberia and china will be further strengthened.
He said the Chinese government is happy to turn over the Camp Tubman Military Barrack which he disclosed is the largest project in infrastructure undertaken by the Chinese in Africa.
The Chinese envoy said the relationship between Liberia and China has grown over the last few years and is very meaningful to the two countries.
“Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Liberia our bilateral relations have become increasingly solidified, our economic cooperation has produced great results and our military exchanges have been continuously strengthened. The Chinese government and the People’s Liberation Army have supported the training of the new Liberian army by giving help such as capacity building and personal training and etc”, Ambassador Zhou recounted.
Since 2006, the Chinese Ambassador said, China has provided 30 scholarships every year to help train Liberian army officers, 38 million Chinese Yuan (CNY) an equivalent of US$5.5 million dollars as an assistance ear marked for the construction of Camp Tubman Military Barracks.
Ambassador Zhou said the project was completed on time due to the effort of officials of the Ministry of National Defense, the China Xing Xing Corporation, the Bangladeshi Contingent of UNMIL and the many contractors.
He said the Liberian governed has succeeded in its quest to build a new and professional Liberian army and indicated that the new army will be discipline and aw-abiding.

Ambassador Zhou: “We will like to say that the Liberian government has succeeded in its quest to build a new army with the support of the US government and ECOWAS. We are confident this new Armed forces will be law-abiding, hardly discipline and professional, capable of safe guarding the peace and security of Liberia. I hope this gift from my country will add a little to the AFL in fulfilling its mission.”
Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for what he called the numerous contributions of that country to the Ministry of National Defense and the Armed forces of Liberia.

“We like to thank the Chinese government not only for this facility but other training opportunities and equipment that they have provided to the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia,” and continued, “We look forward to the scholarship to train our personnel and other assistances.”
The Defense Minister also praised the support from other countries including the United States of America, West African countries and other international partners for their support to the building of the new Liberian army.

“We remain very grateful for the numerous support from our international partners, I will like to inform that the soldiers that will be here were trained by the United States of America sponsored Security Sector Reform Program (SSR) and our friends from the West African sub region, have also been very helpful to the training of the new AFL and we also say thank to our own Officer In-Charge, Maj. Gen. Abdul Raman”, Minister Samukai expressed.
The Defense Minister promised that the facilities of the newly renovated barracks will be used professionally and with care.

He said it is the Ministry’s intention to utilize the facility in the appropriate manner, saying, “We will do the best we can to make sure that the soldiers that are deployed here are under the proper leadership and guidance and they will be able to work with their counterparts particularly UNMIL Bangladeshi contingent to continue their training in engineering. It is hope that the Chinese side promise of providing one year maintenance of the facility will help to train other Liberians on how to manage the facility.”

Members of the new Armed Forces of Liberia, he said were trained by United States sponsored SSSR program and expressed thank to the US government, Maj. General Radman and the Bangladesh contingent of UNMIL for their continuous support to the new AFL.
The Camp Tubman Military Barracks which covers 29.3 acres, with a future expansion capability of up to 75 acres of land, is named after Liberia’s 18th President William V.S. Tubman.

It was established in 1937 as a detachment of the Armed Forces of Liberia’s 5th Infantry Battalion which was headquartered in Sanniquellie, Nimba County.
The barrack was destroyed during the course of the Liberian civil war, leaving the entire facility in ruins until the recent renovation by the Chinese.

(ALLAFRICA)

Liberia signed Thursday a 2.6 billion dollar agreement with Chinese conglomerate China Union to develop its main iron ore mine, the biggest ever investment in the West African nation.

A government statement said President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf signed a mineral development agreement with officials from the Chinese mining company to develop the Bong Mines.

Sirleaf invited other Chinese companies to come and invest in the country, which emerged from a crippling 14-year civil war in 2003.

“The Liberian leader expressed the hope that the signing of the agreement will serve as a motivation to other Chinese companies to invest in Liberia,” the statement said.

The deal has been sent to the parliament for ratification.

Liberia’s Investment Minister Richard Tolbert announced in December that a deal was in the making with the Chinese mining giant, greeting it as the country’s biggest ever investment.

He said China Union had promised that within 12 months it will have built a one-million-tonne-a-year capacity refining factory at the Bong iron mines, about 150 kilometers (95 miles) north of Monrovia.

He said 3,000 jobs would be created by the project with up to 15,000 following indirectly.

Before Liberia’s 1989-2003 civil war, mines were run by a German concern, the Bong Mining Company. But it was criticised for not carrying out development projects in the region.

((AFP))

A Chinese conglomerate has promised to spend $2.6bn on Liberia’s main iron ore mine in the biggest investment ever made in the African nation, Investment Minister Richard Tolbert told AFP on Saturday.

Tolbert said the China Union company had promised that within 12 months it will have built a one million tonne a year capacity refining factory at the Bong iron mines, about 150km north of Monrovia.

“It is the highest investment in our country’s history. They have already won the bid in a transparent manner and we are now concluding the signing of the contract,” Tolbert said in an interview.

The minister said China Union would give the government $40m just to sign the contract in January.

“This is the highest amount any company ever gave us upon the conclusion of our negotiations. This is the cash the government will receive, to begin to fix the infrastructures of this country, and some of the social needs of our people.”

He said there would be 3 000 jobs created by the project with up to 15 000 following indirectly.

“That is within two to three years. In the long term they have assured us that the direct jobs could be as many as 10-15 000, and the indirect ones as higher as 70 000.”

Before Liberia’s 1989-2003 civil war, mines were run by a German concern, the Bong Mining Company. But it was criticised for not carrying out development projects in the region.

“We have started to correct all mistakes of the past,” said Tolbert.

“We have put things into the agreement to make sure that we have not only an extractive industry for the next 25 years, but there is something left there after the investors leave. That people of the area will have something that they will be able to be proud of.”

He added that at a time of global economic crisis the China Union deal was “a great sign of confidence investors have in our country.”

(AFP)

A Chinese conglomerate has promised to spend 2.6 billion dollars on Liberia’s main iron ore mine in the biggest investment ever made in the African nation, Investment Minister Richard Tolbert told AFP on Saturday.

Tolbert said the China Union company had promised that within 12 months it will have built a one million tonne a year capacity refining factory at the Bong iron mines, about 150 kilometers (95 miles) north of Monrovia.

“It is the highest investment in our country’s history. They have already won the bid in a transparent manner and we are now concluding the signing of the contract,” Tolbert said in an interview.

The minister said China Union would give the government 40 million dollars just to sign the contract in January.

“This is the highest amount any company ever gave us upon the conclusion of our negotiations. This is the cash the government will receive, to begin to fix the infrastructures of this country, and some of the social needs of our people.”

He said there would be 3,000 jobs created by the project with up to 15,000 following indirectly.

“That is within two to three years. In the long term they have assured us that the direct jobs could be as many as 10-15,000, and the indirect ones as higher as 70,000.”

Before Liberia’s 1989-2003 civil war, mines were run by a German concern, the Bong Mining Company. But it was criticised for not carrying out development projects in the region.

“We have started to correct all mistakes of the past,” said Tolbert.

“We have put things into the agreement to make sure that we have not only an extractive industry for the next 25 years, but there is something left there after the investors leave. That people of the area will have something that they will be able to be proud of.”

He added that at a time of global economic crisis the China Union deal was “a great sign of confidence investors have in our country.”

(AFP)

A 275-member team of Chinese soldiers left for Liberia Thursday for an eight-month UN peacekeeping operation to the African country.

They formed the first batch of the eighth peacekeeping team that China sent to Liberia.

They will be followed by a second batch of 283 soldiers who are scheduled to depart Dec. 29.

The eighth team is comprised of transportation troops, engineers and medical staff.

China joined the peacekeeping mission in Liberia in December 2003 under a resolution of the UN Security Council. China has so far sent a total of 3,906 peacekeepers to Liberia in rotation, with each mission lasting eight months.

The seventh peacekeeping team was also comprised of 558 soldiers in total, each of whom were awarded the UN international peace medal for their outstanding performance in November.
Editor: Deng Shasha
(http://news.xinhuanet.com)