President pro-tempore of the Senate, Hon. Isaac Nyenabo and H.E. Amb. Zhou Yuxiao last Saturday,December 1, 2007, visited Mr. Nyenabo's hometown, Zwedru. Upon their arrival, they were warmly welcomed by the superintendent of the Grand Gedeh County, the Mayor of Zwedru and UNMIL commanders and soldiers including the commander of Sector 4, representatives from the Chinese engineering and medical contingents.
They visited Zwedru Multilateral High School, inspected the roads rehabilitated by Chinese engineering contingent and met with the local traditional leaders and people.
When talking to the students at T. Kudar Jerry, Ambassador Zhou said that education is very essential in nation-building in any country, particularly in Liberia. China has been trying to help the Liberian education sector in a modest way. Since the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2003, China has provided Liberia with more than 50 full scholarships, trained about 300 technical personnel in China. It is now building three high schools, one new campus for University of Liberia in Fendel and renovating three labs in UL. He hoped that some of the students present would have the opportunity to study in the classroom build by China and study in China with Chinese scholarships.
Mr. Zhou also had dialogues with the students and shared his thoughts on how to be a useful person to his or her own country. He said that Liberia is at a very critical moment. It takes the government and people to work together to tide over the difficult period. Young people, who hold the future of the nation, have the right to ask what the motherland should do for them, but more importantly, they should ask what they themselves can do for the motherland. Science and technology need to be taught in schools. But patriotism, integrity, devotion and sacrifice are far important and urgent to be taught in schools at this moment.
Mr. Zhou noted that there are about 16,000 peacekeepers in Liberia. Most of them are young people. They can not look after their elderly parents and loved sons and daughters at home while they are here. That is their devotion and sacrifice to the cause of peace and tranquility in Liberia. As young Liberian citizens, the students can certainly do more and better in rebuilding their own country, the Ambassador said confidently.
President pro-tempore thanked Ambassador Zhou for his goodwill visit and touching speech. He expressed gratitude for the supportive role the Chinese government has played in the peace process and reconstruction of Liberia, lauding the Chinese engineering and medical contingents for their remarkable contribution. Hon. Nyenabo hoped that Sino-Liberian friendship and cooperation will be further strengthened.
