-CIDCA Spokesman
By Francis Pelenah, Jr. in Beijing
The Spokesman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDA) has said the People’s Republic of China’s Engagement with Liberia and other developing countries is built on the principles of mutual respect.
Mr. Tian Lin said both Liberia and China have enjoyed mutual cooperation and friendship since the country reestablished relations with the PRC many years ago.
He dismissed suggestions from some quarters that China is only interested in Liberia because of the Country’s rich natural resources.
China has never made economic benefits or returns as preconditions for its foreign development assistance to countries in need such as Liberia, Mr. Tian said.
According to him, as a country struggling to develop, Liberia will continue to enjoy massive support from the Peoples Republic of China under the framework of South-South Economic Development Cooperation.
He was responding to a question about China’s future development assistance package for Liberia, ahead of the start of the Belt and Road Forum.
Set up about a year ago, CIDCA is the official arm of the government of the PRC responsible to formulate strategic guidelines, plans and policies for foreign aid.
Speaking to a team of Journalists from the China Africa Press Center on Wednesday, Mr. Tian said China’s engagement with Liberia, as in other developing countries, is tailored on four categories.
He named those areas as infrastructures including roads, bridges and major public projects. Goods and Materials, under which China will continue to give food aid, school and medical assistance aimed at improving the lives of the people.
Other key areas include Technical Cooperation and Human Resources Development Cooperation.
The CIDCA Official however said for Liberia and other receiving countries to ensure the effectiveness of Chinese Aid, they must invest wisely and fully utilize the assistance to improve the livelihood of the ordinary people.
The second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation officially starts on Friday April 26, 2019. A total of 126 countries, including developed and developing nations, and 29 international organizations have signed cooperation documents with China.
With the support of Chinese businesses, the BRI aims to connect the world by major infrastructure mainly roads and bridges to make life easy for the world’s population.