China and Liberia are visibly enjoying perhaps the best round of bilateral relations since the 1970's.

Relations between the two countries took a nose dive in the 1980s under the Samuel Doe regime and during the 1990s and the early part of the Charles Taylor regime when that administration swithched ties with renegade Taiwan. But diplomatic ties between the People's Republic of China and Liberia were once more restored in October 2003, following the Liberian peace accord in Accra, Ghana which China supported, thereby bringing to an end 14 years of civil war in Liberia. Since then, China and Liberia have solidified their ties culminating into a number of crucial Chinese-sponsored projects in Liberia.

The construction on a Chinese multi-purpose embassy complex in Monrovia according to Chinese diplomats is a manifestation of China's bilateral commitment with Liberia. In furtherance of China's commitment and in addition to the Chinese government's numerous contributions toward the development agenda of war-torn Liberia, China is at the moment nearing completion of a multi-purpose university complex in Fendall as contribution towards the expansion of the state-owned University of Liberia. The university complex is expected to be dedicated by July of this year. The Chinese are also nearing completion of an Agricultural Technical Demonstration Center in Bong County. The significance of the Agricultural Demonstration Center is to conduct research to aid the quantitative and qualitative scientific cultivation of rice and other crops of interest.

Another significant project the Chinese are undertaking which is our focus for today is the US$10 million referral hospital project in Tappita, Nimba County. The Chinese are said to be determined to complete the hospital by June of this year, and upon completion, the hospital will be equipped with some of the most advanced medical tools to cater to the health needs of Liberians and foreign residents beyond Nimba County. The need for health care facilities such as a referral hospital, especially in rural Liberia is enormous as in many instances the sick would travel by foot for several miles to get to the nearest health post.