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Remarks By H.E. Ambassador Mr. Fu Jijun at the Arrival Reception
2018-04-12 00:36

 

(Chinese Embassy in Liberia,10 April 2018 )

 

Your Excellency Vice President Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, the Republic of Liberia,

Your Excellency Former Vice President Joseph Boakai,

Honorable Speaker Dr. Bhofa Chambers,

Honoralbe Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Parliament members,

Your Excellency Doyen and Ambassadors to Liberia,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Evening!

Firstly, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Liberia and in the name of my wife and I myself, to start by extending a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks, to all of you for attending today's reception. Taking this opportunity, I would like to convey the sincere greetings and best wishes, from the government and people of the People's Republic of China, to the government and people of the Republic of Liberia.

It is a great honor for me being appointed as Chinese Ambassador to Liberia. Even though I just arrived in Monrovia a very short time ago, the glorious history of Liberia as the first republic in Africa,the strong desire of Liberian people for peace and prosperity, the peaceful and orderly transition of the government, the pro-poor agenda proposed by President Weah, the vigor of young people taking part in the "Weah for Clean City" campaign, the encouragement to agriculture and gender development by Vice President Taylor, as well as the hospitality, friendship, openness and inclusiveness of Liberian people, have made a deep impression on me. I find that I have fallen in love with Liberia.

Liberia is a country with rich natural resources and hardworking people. It has a huge potential for prosperity and development. Since assuming office, President Weah has proposed the people-centered Pro-Poor Agenda, and been working hard for achieving its great aims, which fully indicates that his government is positively responding to the basic demands of the people, such as road connection, education, health care and youth empowerment and so on. Though currently confronting with some difficulties and challenges, I am confident that, under the capable leadership of President Weah, with the joint efforts of hardworking Liberian people, and the kindly help from the international community, Liberia will surely achieve its great goals, and obtain independent sustainable development at an early time.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since my arrival, I have paid courtesy calls to, and had good conversations with Mr. President, Vice President, high level officials of Liberian ministries and parliament, colleagues from diplomatic corps and international organizations, and friends from various walks of life of Liberia. I am deeply impressed and encouraged by their positive affirmations and high expectations on the China-Liberia collaboration.

I am glad that the China-Liberia friendship has won wholehearted support of our two peoples and the international community. The China-Liberia cooperation has been maintaining a good momentum in recent years. The concrete projects have been set up and will be completed soon in the fields of road, office building, health care, education, sports, information, agriculture and airport ect., have made and will make more contributions to the development of Liberia. The investment of Chinese companies and people to people exchanges between China and Liberia are increasing. The fruitful results of China-Liberia friendly relations and cooperation, have been bringing tangible benefits to our two countries and peoples. Liberian Government and Parliament reiterated their firm support for the One-China policy, which China highly appreciates.

As a Chinese saying goes, 'long distance separates no bosom friends'. Although China and Liberia are far from each other geographically and have different history, culture and national condition, we are both developing countries, and facing the same task of further developing our country and improving our people's livelihood. The bilateral cooperation between us, has a great potential and broad prospects in a wide range of sectors. Strengthening China-Liberia relations is not only in the common interests of both China and Liberia, but also conducive to the development and prosperity of Africa.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The year of 2018 marks the beginning year of China's implementing the spirit of the 19th Congress of Communist Party, and the 40th anniversary of China's Reform and Opening-u p. Guided by President Xi Jinping's thought on "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era", Chinese government and people are striving to achieve the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. This morning, in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia, President Xi Jinping announced that China will accelerate its opening-up,inclusive development and cooperation with the international community for bring more benefits to the world.

As good partners, China is ready to work with African countries including Liberia, to make joint efforts for enhancing mutual understanding, promoting the construction of the "Belt and Road", building a new type of international relations of win-win cooperation, and a community of shared future for mankind, and making greater contributions to the world peace, stability and development.

You may have noticed that, since the beginning of this year, the high level exchange of visits and collaboration between China and Africa have been expanding. Just in the last two weeks, three African presidents have visited China with fruitful cooperative results. This coming September, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit will take place in Beijing. President Xi Jinping and President of South Africa, the FOCAC co-chair, have jointly extended warm invitation to all the leaders of the forum members to attend the Summit. 

During the Summit, the leaders of China and Africa countries will uphold the principles of China's policy toward Africa, namely sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith and based on the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits of B&R, to discuss how to expand the collaboration between China and African under the One Belt and One Road initiative. President Xi appreciates that President Weah has accepted the co-chair's invitation, and looks forward to listening to President Weah's view and suggestions on further strengthening the cooperation between China and Africa including Liberia. I am confident that the Summit will offer a great opportunity, for Liberia fully participating in China-Africa cooperation under the B&R initiative, and inject new impetus into the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Liberia.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The China-Liberia friendship are inseparable from your great efforts and contributions. The future of China-Liberia cooperation will still rely on your valuable support and assistance. As China's new ambassador to Liberia, I would like to make every efforts to deepen the collaboration between our two countries and enhance the friendship between our two peoples. I strongly believe that, with your kindly help, we can write a new chapter of China-Liberia friendly relations and cooperation and bring more benefits to the peoples of our two countries at together.

Finally, I'd like to propose a toast,

to the health of Vice President Dr. Jewel Taylor and all friends at present,

to the profound China-Liberia friendship,

to the prosperity and bright future of China and Liberia,

Cheers!


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