Remarks of His Excellency Ambassador FU Jijun

　　at the Turning-over Ceremony of LED Billboard to University of Liberia

　　November 21, 2019

　　Hon. Dr. Julius Julukon Sarwolo Nelson, Jr., President of the University of Liberia,

　　Hon. Mr. Dexter S. Sumo, Director of Confucius Institute at University of Liberia,

　　Dear faculty members, students of UL and media f riends,

　　Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　I have the pleasure to extend my appreciation to you all for being a part of this meaningful event. Taking this opportunity, I would like to congratulate Hon. Dr. Julius Nelson for being appointed as the new President of University of Liberia. I believe it is not only a great reward to your past hard work and achievements, but also a highly expection from H.E. President Gorge Weah and the University of Liberia for your leadship. I am confident that, at your strong heading, the University of Liberia will make more progress. I would also like to assure you that my Embassy and I myself will do our best for futhering our fruitful collaboration.

　　Mr. President,

　　Distinguished Ladies and gentlmen,

　　Today, I have the honor to present the LED Display Screen with related digital equipment and accessories to the University of Liberia. This is another friendly gesture from China to Liberia and UL partitular. I thank the managing team and staff of China’s Jiangsu Construction Engineering Group Co.in Liberia, for working hard to build the E-Screen.

　　It is said that the University of Liberia is a microcosm of the Liberian society. As such, I strongly believe that this e-billboard will provide a medium of information dissemination for the authority of UL to the student populace. I hope the managing team of the e-screen of UL could fully use it to benefit the faculty members and students.

　　Mr. President,

　　Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

　　2019 has been a remarkable year for China-Liberia collaboration in the human resources development or the people empowerment as the Pro-Poor Agenda called. Since H.E. President Gorge Weah attended the Beijing Summit of Forum of China-Africa Cooperation September 2018, the edecational collaboration between China and Liberia has been moving to a higher level. On September 3, 2018, H.E. President Xi Jinping announced eight major initiatives for enhancing China-Africa collaboration in the next three years and beyond. The capacity building initiative proposed that China would provide Africa 50,000 government scholarships in next 3 years. That’s why we can see the China-Liberia education cooperation has undergone a great leap forward this year. In 2018, China awarded full scholarships to nearly 50 Liberian students. This year, more than 70 Liberian students have received China’s full Scholarships to study in China for bachelor, master and doctorate degree in various disciplines. There are also around 30 persons who have received other kinds of scholarships from China’s Confucius Institute and universities. I am glad that quite a few of them are UL students.

　　What’s more, China has also significantly increased the quota of short time to long time training opportunities for Liberian. So far, more than 350 Liberian government officials, scholars, doctors, and technicians have traveled to China for professional or specialized skill training that would improve their capacities to effectively delivery services to Liberian people. In the same vain, around 100 students from UL, Cuttington University and Tubman University got benefits from the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship.

　　Mr. President,

　　Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen,

　　China-Liberia friendship has flourished in the past decade, and personal exchanges and concrete collaboration in various fields have been increasing, thus bringing huge benefits to the two peoples. As the world’s largest developing country, China has always been dedicating to enhancing the cooperation with Liberia in terms of people empowerment, by sharing its development experiences, knowledge and technology with Liberia in various means. China is fully aware of the harsh economic reality that Liberia is facing with. The reasons may be many, but the solution will not be achieved without a well-coordinated efforts to tackle some of the major root causes. Beyond the academics, technical capacity needs of the Liberian youths cannot be over emphasized.

　　As we all know, youth is the future and hope of nations, as well as an important force to advance social development, especially for Liberia whose population consists predominantly of young people. Both the academics and technical capacity needs of the Liberian youths cannot be overemphasized. It is for this reason that China is dedicated to enhancing its support to Liberia particularly for empowerment of the Liberian youths, through the University of Liberia, which has been playing a crucial role in educating and empowering the young people. China is willing to further strengthen collaboration with Liberia under the framework of FOCUC and the Pro-Poor Agenda, to help Liberia achieve its development and prosperity.

　　Mr. President,

　　Distinguished Ladies and gentlmen,

　　Today we also have the faculty members and students of the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia. The Confucius Institute at UL has recorded its first decade with remarkable achievements. This Confucius Institute is the first in West Africa, helping hundreds of Liberian youth in learning Chinese language. Many graduates of the Confucius Institute are currently providing professional services to Liberian and Chinese businesses. The annual scholarship allotment for students of the Confucius Institute to study in China has almost tripled since the last academic year. We therefore applaud the great role has and will be played by the Confucius Institute at the UL in promoting cultural exchanges, friendship and cooperation between China and Liberia. I have the honor to appeal to Mr. President and the managing team of UL to support the Confucius Institute in its efforts for achieving its mission.

　　Hon. President,

　　Distinguished Ladies and gentlmen,

　　Every nation looks to its youth to lead the way forward. As an outstanding group among the youth, the students of the UL are the future of Liberia and the level of their quality will play a crucial role in the progress of the nation. So that I sincerely wish and hope the university students will aim for excellence. I have the honor to chellenge you to full play your youthful vigour and intelligence to go after your dreams and achieve great feats. I hope you will join hands with your international countpartners including Chinese youth to write a new and more splendid chapter for a community with a shared future for mankind.

　　I wish the University of Liberia continued progress and greater success.

　　I thank you all for your attention!