(24 November 2022)

Hon. Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Youh, Chief Justice of the Honourable Supreme Court of Liberia,

Hon. Associate Justices Jamesetta Howard Wolokolie of the Honourable Supreme Court,

Hon. Cllr. F. Musah Dean, Jr. Minister of Justice & Attorney General,

Distinguished other representatives of the government,

Cllr. Sylvester D. Rennie, National President and other leadership members of Liberia National Bar Association(LNBA),

Distinguished colleagues from the diplomatic corps,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning! Thank you for inviting me to attend and address the Annual Convention 2022 of LNBA. This convention is being held at an important juncture when Liberia is preparing for next year’s presidential and legislative elections. I wish this convention a great success.

We note with interest that this year’s convention has chosen “Contemporary Developments in the Law: Implications for Liberia’s Legal System” as the theme which is an important issue. The legal culture in the world is very different, and each country has its own legal system. Any legal system is unique, and each country has its own problems and corresponding solutions. It is crucial to find a nationalized way to participate in legal globalization. A good legal system has three elements: the authority of the law, good judicial officials, and a simple and easy procedure.

China's legal system is an organic and unified whole, with the Constitution as the commander, laws as the backbone, administrative regulations and local regulations as important components.

Law-based governance of China has been highlighted in the report delivered by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China(CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, who is also President of the People’s Republic of China(PRC) at the opening ceremony of the 20^th National Congress of CPC held in October. The report comprehensively summarized the work of the past five years since the 19th Congress and the great changes in the first decade of the new era since the 18th Congress held in 2012, and clarified the mission and tasks of the CPC in the new journey of the new era. The seventh part of the report focuses on the theme of adhering to the rule of law in an all-round way and promoting the construction of China under the rule of law.

To build a rule of law China, we strive to achieve scientific, complete and unified legal norms, fair, efficient and authoritative law enforcement and justice, effectively restrict and supervise the exercise of power, fully respect and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the people, universally establish the belief in the rule of law, and build a rule of law country, a rule of law government, and a rule of law society in all respects.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to update you on China’s major achievements and great changes over the past 10 years as contained in the above-mentioned report. They include but not limited to comprehensively deepening reform(e.g. more than 2,000 reform programs have been rolled out), winning a complete victory of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, strengthening ecological and environmental governance and conservation(e.g. one of our four big deserts is about to disappear thanks to our decades’ afforestation efforts), and joining the ranks of the world's innovators with breakthroughs in some core technologies in key fields(e.g. spaceflight program, ICT, AI, and bio, new material, ocean, and energy).

In the past ten years, China’s GDP has increased from 54 trillion yuan to 114 trillion yuan(roughly US$17.7 trillion). The per capita GDP has risen from US$6,300 to over US$12,500. In less than ten years’ time, nearly 100 million rural people have been lifted out of extreme poverty.

In recent years, Xinjiang has enjoyed sustained economic growth, social harmony and stability, better living standards, cultures thriving like never before. All remaining 3.09 million impoverished people have been lifted out of poverty. The Uyghur population has increased from about 8.3 million in 2000 to 11.6 plus million in 2020, with an average annual growth rate far higher than that of the national minority population. The lies and disinformation fabricated by some Western countries at the UN human rights mechanisms and elsewhere about so-called “genocide”, “forced labour” and “forced sterilization” in Xinjiang are nothing but a political attempt to use Xinjiang-related issues to smear and contain China and are doomed to fail.

China adheres to the independent foreign policy of peace and is committed to promoting common development and a human community with a shared future.

In 2013, President Xi Jinping put forward the Belt & Road Initiative(BRI) which is intended to promote win-win cooperation in areas such as investment, trade, finance, technology, society, humanities, people's livelihood and other fields.

During the past two years, President Xi has also put forward Global Development Initiative(GDI) and Global Security Initiative(GSI) respectively. The purpose of these two initiatives are to maintain lasting world peace and promote common development.

On many occasions, I have been asked about the secret of China’s success in economic and social development and advancement. I attribute it mainly to these factors: the strong leadership of the CPC, taking a Chinese path to modernization, adhering to the people-centred development concept, and putting the realization of the people's rights to subsistence and development in the first place, adhering to reform and opening up, actively carrying out international cooperation, being down-to-earth, working hard and persevering, emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts.

Ladies and gentlemen,

By upholding the concept of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith and following the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, China has carried out friendly, pragmatic and win-win cooperation with Africa and Liberia with fruitful outcomes. The biggest feature of China-Africa and China-Liberia cooperation is mutual benefit and common development.

China has been fully involved in Liberia’s development. Our cooperation outcomes are demonstrated by landmark projects inside and outside Monrovia such as the SKD Sports Complex, the Fendall Campus of the University of Liberia, Monrovia Vocational Training Center, JFD Hospital in Tapeta, the Ministerial Complex, and the two annexes to the Capitol Building.

New projects including the National Clinical Diagnostic and Treatment Lab at the 14 Military Hospital, the Fingerprint Examination Lab, the two Overpass Bridges on Tubman Boulevard, and LBS upgrade and expansion, etc. are either about to be constructed or in tendering and procurement phases. A Chinese engineers’ team is expected to arrive to conduct feasibility study for the Somalia-Sinkor Road and Bridge project.

So far, China has carried out several terms of technical assistance projects including the Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center, Bamboo and Rattan Weaving and Vegetable Planting Technology Project, SKD and LBS maintenance projects, etc. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has donated 6 batches of anti-epidemic materials to Liberia.

China has also become one of Liberia's major development partners. As of the first half of 2021, China's direct investment stock in various industries in Liberia reached US$181 million. China will implement a zero-tariff policy on 98% of imported goods from Liberia.

China-Liberia people-to-people exchanges are active. Every year, China provides around 50 full government scholarships and more than 150 short- and long-term training opportunities to Liberia.

Next year, we will usher in the 20th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Liberia. By docking the BRI, GDI and GSI with Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development(PAPD), China will work closely with Liberia to jointly implement the “Nine Programs” of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC) and make concerted efforts in building a community with shared future for both sides.

Ladies and gentlemen,

2023 presidential and legislative elections will be an important event in the political life of Liberia. We wish the 2023 elections every success and are convinced that the elections will further strengthen the cohesion of the nation and promote the country's economic and social development. China is ready to carry out exchanges and cooperation with all Liberian political parties on the basis of equality and mutual respect. We look forward to further strengthening our two countries’ friendly, pragmatic and win-win cooperation after 2023.

Against this backdrop, LNBA has an important role to play in the areas of peace and stability, democracy and justice, and prosperity and development. As such LMBA members should bear in mind LNBA Vision and Mission, and strive to safeguard the correct implementation of the law, fairness and justice, and the legitimate rights and interests of all parties. Liberian lawyers also need to enhance fraternal bond among LNBA members and between the Association and Bars of foreign countries.

In this regard, the Chinese embassy will actively promote the exchanges and cooperation between All China Lawyers Association(ACLA) and LNBA and is ready to facilitate visits to and provide training opportunities in China for LNBA and its members.

Thank you.