（15 December. 2020）

Hon. Ledgerhood Rennie, Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism,

Hon. Bill Twehway, Managing Director, National Port Authority,

Hon. Mrs. Estelle Liberty Kemoh, Director General of the Liberia Broadcasting System,

Hon. Deputy Directors General of LBS,

My Chinese compatriots working at LBS,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening!

I’m so delighted to attend LBS’ annual awards celebration held at the Paynesville City Hall. Thank you for the invitation.

I would like to take this opportunity to briefly share with you our assessment of some of this year’s events concerning our two countries.

This past year of 2020 has been a tough and difficult one. The whole world including China and Liberia has been struck hard by COVID-19. The economic and social impact caused by the pandemic is seen everywhere. Nevertheless, both of our countries have prevented and controlled the pandemic quite well thanks to our effective measures and the public’s discipline in following the health protocols.

While the pandemic is still raging around and facing tremendous challenges, Liberia has tried hard to reopen her economy.

Last week, Liberia successfully held the mid-term Senatorial Elections, Constitution Referendum and related by-elections. Our heartfelt congratulations to the Liberian government and people for the peaceful and smooth conduct of the elections.

We sincerely hope Liberia will continue to be blessed with peace, stability, prosperity and development.

Back in China, with successful resumption of work and production, we will manage to realize positive GDP growth this year by 2.1% which might be the sole case for world’s major economies according to IMF.

Recently, the 19th Communist Party of China(CPC) Central Committee has held its Fifth Plenary Session and the Communique adopted has put forward proposals for formulation of the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. The Communique says among other things that, China's GDP is expected to cross the 100-trillion-yuan (around 15 trillion USDs) mark in 2020. China has made remarkable achievements in its battle against poverty over the past five years, lifting 55.75 million rural residents out of poverty. The CPC has also raised a set of long-range objectives for China to basically achieve socialist modernization by 2035.

At the international fora, China continues to be a strong supporter of multilateralism as reiterated by President Xi Jinping in his statement in commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

China has actively participated in international cooperation in areas of fighting COVID-19 by rendering support to other countries, African and other developing countries in particular. China has also promised that we will make our COVID vaccine a global public good.

At the recently held Climate Ambition Summit, President Xi reiterated that China will advance green development and promote harmony between human and nature.

This year also marks the 20th Anniversary of the founding of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC). Over the past 20 years, the cooperation between China and Africa in all respects have scored numerous achievements. Next year, FOCAC will hold its summit in Senegal. We trust China-Africa cooperation will usher in another golden decade thereafter.

During the past year of 2020, the friendly cooperative relations between China and Liberia have continued to grow in political, economic and trade, cultural and people to people exchange areas. We are making progress in infrastructure construction, clinical reference lab, paired hospitals against COVID. We are also exploring ways and means to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and poverty reduction. All these are in line with the Belt & Road Initiative, Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development and FOCAC plans and initiatives.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the efforts and laud the achievements made by LBS in disseminating news and information to the outside world and in promoting friendship and cooperation between our two countries. China through our Embassy in Liberia will continue to support LBS’ work in the years to come.

Finally, I wish everybody present here a Merry Christmas and happy and prosperous New Year!

Thank you!