Tuesday, May 21, 2013 01:57 
China Awards AFL Soldiers, Others Scholarships
Story by Edwin G. Wandah
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The Chinese Government through its Embassy accredited near Monrovia last week Friday bade farewell to 24 personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and 26 civilians to study in the People's Republic of China. The Chinese Ambassador, ZHAO JIANHUA said the Chinese Government deemed it prudent to offer to Liberia the good gesture of his Government especially at the time when Liberia needs education most.
Ambassador JIANHUA said the future of Liberia lies in the arms of the youthful populace and so building their capacities will be an essential way of empowering the young people of Liberia with knowledge of skills for future careers.
Ambassador JIANHUA said as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has all along emphasized the importance of education as a priority of Liberia, there are many efforts being made for a significant progress in achieving this goal by his Government.
Responding, Assistant Minister Chris Moore said the Government and the people of China have been true friends to Liberia in its strive to build its broken infrastructures of the Liberia.
Minister Moore gave several points as a reference of how China has provided assistances to Liberia in many areas such as improving the damaged Infrastructures of Liberia; building the capacities of young Liberians who are now professionals in the areas of Technical Skills, and connecting the road network of Liberia.
Minister Chris Moore also said the China- Liberia relations will go a long way by the alarming evidences demonstrated, and the many important bilateral cooperation and people-people exchanges between the two sisterly countries.
According to Minister Moore, the Government of China has proven to be a true partner in terms of its meaningful involvement in every aspect of Liberia's reconstruction process and the technical assistance in the form of short term trainings and scholarships, the direct involvement of restoring and developing Liberia's damaged infrastructures.
Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Moore said the development of human capacity is cardinal to the socio-economic and progressive- transformation of any modern society.
He said the Chinese Business Association of Liberia gave USD260. 000. 00 to deserving Liberian students to study in higher institutions of learning in Liberia, and the ongoing Chinese Ambassador's local scholarship also points to the extent of China's commitment to Liberia's human resource development agenda.
Minister Moore concluded by extending thanks and appreciations on behalf of the Government of Liberia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augustus K. Ngafuan to the Government and the People's Republic of China for the scholarships.
The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, the AFL Col. Aaron T. Johnson thanked the Chinese Government for the scholarships, while a beneficiary, Patience E. Awhavbera spoke on behalf of the beneficiary students.
In her message, she thanked the Chinese Government for the scholarships and that the selection of her and the other students were not a mistake because as she put it, Liberia stands to benefit.
