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Development Ministers Visit China-aided UL Fendell Campus Project
2008-09-10 01:25

By Chinese Embassy in Liberia

(2008/09/09)

On September 6, 2008, Ministers and senior officials from donor countries and Liberia, including America, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Japan, paid a visit to the construction site of the ongoing expansion project at Fendell Campus, University of Liberia. Chinese Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao, Commercial Counsellor Liu Yunbiao and other diplomats from Chinese Embassy accompanied the delegation during the tour. Visitors include Mr. A.G. Koenders, Miniter for Development Cooperation of Netherlands, Mr. Hakon Gulbrandsen, State Secretary for International Development of Norway, Ms. Henrietta H. Fore, Administrator of USAID &Under Secretary of the U.S. State Department, Ms. Yukiko Okano, Principal Deputy Director for Aid Policy Planning Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, Mr. Hakan Akesson, Ambassador and Deputy Director-General, Head of the Department for Management and Methods in Development Cooperation of Sweden, resident representatives of EU, World Bank, IMF, ect. Officials from Liberian side include H.E. Olubanke King Akerele, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Augustine Ngafuan, Minister of Finance, Hon. Joseph Korto, Minter of Education, Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, President of the University of Liberia.

After the visit to the construction site, Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao briefed the visitors on the project and China’s aid to Liberia in general.

 

Chinese Ambassador briefs visitors about the project

Ambassador Zhou Pointed out that China remains a developing country as its GDP per capita is only little over US$ 2,000. China is not a donor, but an active participant in Sount-South cooperation. “In an increasingly interdependent world, no country can go ahead single-handedly. We all need to help and support each other. The timely and generous assistance to China from other countries during China’s recent catastrophic earthquake is a case in point. China is grateful the world for what it has done and is much encouraged to do more for others within its own ability in the future.” Said Ambassador Zhou.

Ambassador Zhou summarized the following practices as characteristics of China’s aid to Liberia.

Attaching no political strings to show respect to the recipients. .

Responding to the immediate needs of the Liberia’s post-war recovery and reconstruction.

Emphasizing “fishing capacity building” instead of giving fish only.

Considering and deciding aid projects at the request from and in full consultation with the Liberian government.

100% implementation of agreed projects to avoid lip-services with emphasis on tangible results.

Setting deadlines of the project implementation to avoid prolonged delay.

Making aid projects transparent by inviting journalists to agreement signing ceremonies and at major intervals of project implementation like launching and commissioning.

Simplifying procedure in providing aid to ensure speedy progress.

Maximizing the use of aid money on actual projects by selecting contractor through bidding and minimizing administrative costs.

Emphasizing quality by employing third party supervision.

Encouraging contractors to use as more local laborers as possible.

Although currently China is carrying out projects mainly through bilateral channel with a view to ensure aid efficiency, China is not against cooperation with others. Rehabilitating the existing Fedell Campus is an example of such a cooperation between China and USAID. China is looking forward to similar cooperation with other counties and organizations in the future, Ambassador Zhou concluded.

construction site  


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