Amb. Zhou briefs President Sirleaf on the project

 

"Today marks an important landmark in our quest for prioritizing education in Liberia." That is the words of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf when she officially announced the launching of the China-aided expansion project of Fendell Campus on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

 

President Sirleaf  announces the launching of the project	Participants at the program

 

According to the Liberian leader, the program represents the commitments of the government to education and the priority the government placed on education. It also signifies the value the government placed on higher education. More importantly, it represents strategic partnerships. Both China and the U.S. are working for the betterment of the Fendell Campus by expanding or renovating it. There is no competition between the two countries in Liberia and there is no conflict of interest here neither. She also warned certain people to desist from the bad practice of stealing and to work together for the reconstruction and development of their country.

 

Earlier, Chinese Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao briefed the audience on the project, which is the biggest Chinese aid project in Liberia in recent years. The project, which is expected to be completed in April 2010, is estimated at 21.5 million US Dollars. Besides, China is helping University of Liberia to build three labs, and a Confucius Institute will be open in the University soon. China is also building three schools in Monrovia and Bomi counties. 58 Liberian students are now studying in China under the Chinese government scholarships, and 450 Liberians have received short-term training in China in the past several years while more Liberians are being trained by Chinese experts in Liberia.

 

Amb. Zhou delivers a speech	President Sirleaf and Amb. Zhou at a guided tour

 

According to the Amb. Zhou, China is offering assistance to Liberia not because China is rich, but because China and Liberia are true friends. All countries in the world are increasingly interdependent in this globalization age and need to help and support each other. China's help to Liberia is not one-sided. In fact, Liberia has given much support to China in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. He expressed deep gratitude to President Sirleaf, the Liberian government and people for their financial and moral support to China when China was hit by a catastrophic earthquake recently.

 

The Chinese envoy urged the Liberian youth to cherish the hard-earned peace and not to take peace for granted. They should make sure that peace will remain when the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) is gone. He also called on the Liberian people to support the Chinese company working in Fendell to ensure the smooth progress of the project.

 

Dr. Conteh, President of the University of Liberia and Mr. Roberts, Deputy Education Minister also expressed their satisfaction over the promotion of Sino-Liberian friendship in the past years and their gratitude toward China for its selfless support to Liberia.

 

The launching program was well attended by cabinet ministers and others high-ranking officials, legislators, ambassadors, representatives of UN organizations and other international organizations, University of Liberia faculties and students, Chinese Embassy staff and management of the contractor, Guangdong Xinguang International Group.

 

Pre-visualization of the future Fendell Campus

 

Later, President Sirleaf and other participants of the program made a guided tour to the construction site.