On February 26, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia H.E. Ren Yisheng, at the invitation of the Press Union of Liberia, attended PUL Annual Excellence Awards and Dinner and delivered a speech. More than 100 people attended the event, including Liberia's Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Hon. Nathaniel F. McGill, Deputy Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism Hon. Boakai Fofama, Congressman Hon. Clarence Massaguoi, President of the Press Union of Liberia Hon. Charles B. Coffey, Jr, and representatives of the Liberian press and media circles.

Ambassador Ren extended Spring Festival greetings and best wishes to Liberian friends on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Liberia, and congratulated the winners of the awards. He then spoke about three issues namely the role and responsibilities of the press and media, China's development achievements, and the cooperation between China and Liberia. He refuted some Western media's smears and attacks on China on issues such as Hong Kong, Xinjiang and China-Africa cooperation. He shared the achievements of the Chinese people in 2020 under the leadership of the Communist Party of China in the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic, anti-epidemic cooperation, economic and social development, and poverty alleviation. He also vigorously promoted strengthening the alignment of the framework of the "Belt and Road" Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation with the "Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development" and carrying out friendly and pragmatic cooperation between China and Liberia. Ambassador Ren's speech was warmly welcomed by the participants.

Minister of State Hon. McGill and others made speeches and thanked the Chinese government and people for their important contributions to promoting the development of Liberia in various fields. The Liberian side stated that the friendship between Liberia and China has a long history and has become stronger over time. During the Ebola epidemic and the Covid-19 epidemic, the Chinese government sent a large number of medical experts and supplies to aid Liberia in a desperate need, providing important support and/or assistance to the fight against the epidemic. Liberia is willing to continue to work with China to further deepen bilateral relations and friendship between the two peoples through professional reports by the news media, enhance mutual trust between the two countries, and promote more fruitful bilateral pragmatic cooperation.