Liberian govt. firmly adheres to "one China" policy: acting chairman

The Liberian government firmly adheres to the "one China" policy and supports the great cause of China's national reunification, Wesley Johnson, the acting chairman of National Transitional Government (NTGL) of Liberia, said in Monrovia Friday.

While addressing a reception given by Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Lin Songtian to mark the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which fell on Oct. 1, Johnson said that his government is not only committed to the further enhancement of Sino-Liberian relations, but also to diversifying and discovering new and more rewarding areas of greater cooperation for the mutual benefit of both respective government and peoples.

China and Liberia resumed diplomatic relations on Oct. 11, 2003after experiencing some setbacks.

"The people of China are friends that Liberia can always count on," he told attendees in the speech.

China as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council voted not only for the deployment of UN Mission In Liberia(UNMIL), but also dispatched 600 peacekeepers to join UNMIL, including engineering, transportation, medical and civilian policecontingents as well as military and civilian observers.

"This cooperation on the part of China, for which this government, the NTGL, is grateful, has contributed immensely to the ongoing peace process and national reconstruction of Liberia,"Johnson said.

According to the Chinese ambassador, in order to help the Liberian people develop their own productivity and capacity independently, the Chinese government has decided to unilaterally exempt the custom duties of most goods items originally produced in Liberia exported to China since Jan. 1, 2005, which is a Special Preferential Tariff Treatment to open the market of China to Liberia.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government provides preferential policesand loans to encourage Chinese enterprises to come to Liberia to conduct their economic and trade cooperation in a mutually beneficial manner.

"Such assistance is timely and most needful, we are always remain grateful to the Chinese government and its people." The acting chairman said.

Present at the reception were some 350 guests, including 44 cabinet ministers from the most government ministries, some foreign ambassadors to Liberia and representatives from the Chinese peacekeeping contingents in the west African country.

Source: Xinhua