Monrovia, Liberia--Chinese Ambassador has reaffirmed China’s willingness in identifying itself as a true partner in progress with Liberia on Tuesday while he received a conferral of Honorary Paramount Chief in the Chiefdom of Panta, Bong County. “China will continue to stand behind you steadfastly and will be your willing partner in progress.”

The senior Chinese envoy made the above assertion while he was making remarks of appreciation during the conferral ceremony. Amb. ZHOU took the conferral as a manifestation of the recognition and appreciation by the Liberian people for the meaningful contribution made by his country to the postwar peace and reconstruction in Liberia. “Therefore, I am accepting this honor on behalf of my government and people.” The highest rank Chinese diplomat in Liberia also spoke highly of the existing bilateral relationship between China and Liberia, which he described as “characterized by equality, mutual trust, mutual respect and common prosperity”. Amb. ZHOU also encouraged Liberian people to fully explore their developmental potential by wisely utilizing its abundant natural resources which he called as “God-given advantages”, in addition to their “many man-made advantages” such as hard earned “peace, democratic system, freedom of speech” and so forth.

Earlier at the ceremony, Panta District Commissioner Wellington Belepu expressed his warm welcome to the Chinese Ambassador and commended China’s great contributions to Liberia’s national development program, Poverty Reduction Strategy, initiated by the Liberian government. Commissioner Belepu also enumerated series of China’s aid programs and investments in Bong County, which he called as the impetus to his county’s future development.

Leading a group of chiefs and elders from the Panta Chiefdom, the Paramount Chief Moses Galakrumah and Chief Elder Togba Gbonpelee briefed Amb. ZHOU the history of the Panta Chiefdom and dressed the Chinese Ambassador a traditional garment, together with a wooden sword and scepter, symbols of power and bravery.

The wonderful conferral ceremony also saw inputs of remarks from the representatives of women, children and youth in Panta District and finished with a brief tour of the community facilities by Ambassador ZHOU and his entourage.