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Chinese Ambassador Hopeful Liberia's Development Outlook
2010-12-24 18:29
 

Monrovia, Liberia -At the 89th graduation convocation program of the University of Liberia (UL)’s, Chinese Ambassador ZHOU Yuxiao used his selection as a guest speaker, reiterated China’s willingness in identifying with Liberia by piping his country’s aids and assistances into the education sector of the postwar west Africa country, with a view to driving the long term development of Liberia.

Says the Chinese diplomat: “As you all know, China’s foreign aid policy aims at providing ‘fishing capacity’ rather than fish. That is why we have chosen education as the priority area of Chinese assistance which has been focused on infrastructure and capacity building,” the Chinese Envoy told a well attended high-profiled graduation that saw the Visitor to the University,Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her senior officials of government in attendance.

Wednesday’s graduation, the third to be held within 20 months, was held at the  China-aid Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex outside Monrovia, with over 2,000 students graduating in various disciplines ranging from under-graduate to graduate levels.

The Chinese Ambassador in his commencement speech, after listing several gains made by his country that included the high level of increase in its university student population, that has contributed to China’s social development, urged Liberians by saying: “I hope the practical Chinese experience could be of some relevance to Liberia’s current renewal efforts….these qualities should not only make you good lawyers and traders but also good scientists, industrialists and managers who should be capable of turning your natural resources into processed products.”

Turning to the youth-dominated graduates, the Chinese diplomat reminded them of the advantageous position they find themselves in. “The advantage of the educated youth is that you are knowledgeable, active, creative and courageous. Since your ancestors could do these things in the long past, there is no reason why the educated youth cannot do them in the 21st Century when there are plenty matured technologies and available investments out there. I’m confident that you will be courageous and ambitious enough to challenge your forefathers and overtake them.”

Referencing the UL as the biggest beneficiary of Chinese aid among all the institutions in the country, Ambassador Yuxiao stated that China’s own experience tells that education can contribute immensely to social progress and economic development.

Already, Liberia’s post-war educational sector continues to be boosted by immense Chinese aid which has to some extent awakened some debates over the Chinese’s goodwill.

Since the Sirleaf led administration resumed diplomatic ties with People’s Republic of China, the giant Asian nation heralded with the second largest global economy, has constructed a modern university campus at Fendell in Careysburg - outside Monrovia in addition to several schools in Monrovia and Bomi County, including an agricultural technology demonstration center at the Center for Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) in Bong County.

Ambassador Yuxiao concluded his speech with another scholarship for 15 Liberian science students to be drawn from the country’s 15 counties, adding to a previous batch of 30 students selected in a pair from each county.

On his part, Dr. Emmet Dennis, President of the University of Liberia, thanked the China for its continual support. The university’s president 22 month-old-administration has earned him the title of ‘Best President’ at the nation’s highest public tertiary institution has had to offer in the post-conflict era.

Besides the Chinese’s plan to build a large vocational training center at the once-respected Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) in Gardinersville, the Chinese also run the Confucius Institute which has been set up at the UL.

The Jackson F. Doe Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County, is one of China’s huge recent aids to Liberia, which wrapped up a series of China’s Independence Day presents in mid-2010.


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