China grants Liberia $36m in aid to 4 projects

China has allocated 36 million U. S. dollars to the Liberian government to cover expenses for four Chinese-sponsored projects in the West African country. The gratuitous assistance was made during a note of exchange ceremony between both countries held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia, the country's capital city, on Thursday. Liberian Minister of Foreign Affairs Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Zhao Jianhua represented their respective countries at the ceremony. The funding will be used for the refurbishment of the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex in Paynesville, the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) in Paynesville, construction of annexes for the National Legislature-Capitol Building in Monrovia and the Ministerial Complex to be constructed in Congo Town outside Monrovia, Zhao said. "I am extremely happy today to sign this letter of exchange and it's money for the projects that have been agreed upon which are being simultaneously worked on at the moment," the Chinese envoy added. He promised that all the four projects will be implemented in good quality and on time. Minister Ngafuan thanked the Chinese government and people for supporting Liberia during the time of real need. He said the government and people of China have been with Liberia and that there are lot of tangible evidences of partnership between Liberia and China. An agreement for the Ministerial Complex, expected to be the second largest building funded by China in Africa after the African Union Headquarters in Ethiopia, was signed last year. The MVTC, which is nearing completion to be officially handed over to the Liberian government, is meant to boost youth empowerment by making the country's young people employable through the acquisition of skills. Constructing annexes at the Capitol Building is expected to provide more space for the country's lawmakers while the refurbishing of the SKD Stadium is expected to give the national stadium a brand new face.