The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Liberia, His Excellency Zhao Jianhua has presented a consignment of computers and accessories to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Government and People of the Peoples Republic of China.

Ambassador Zhao presented 20 computers and 20 printers to Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan at a brief ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy Compound in Congo Town on Tuesday. In presenting the computers, the Chinese Envoy described Liberian-Chinese relation as a mutual one stating the relationship between China and Liberia is not one sided.

The Chinese Diplomat stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has been pivotal in advancing the ever-increasing relations between the two countries. Extolling the Ngafuan led administration; the Chinese Ambassador stated that there has been clear progress since the Minister took charge of the Foreign Ministry.

“Ever since Minister Ngafuan took over the Foreign Ministry, I have seen clear progress in terms of efficiency and coordination towards Liberia’s international partners”, Ambassador Zhao remarked during the presentation ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Congo Town.

He however observed that despite the progress under Minister Ngafuan, there are constraints: “In spite of the progress, there are some constraints, especially in terms of ITC. And that’s why I decided to donate these 20 computers and 20 printers to the computer lab of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the hope that these will make the Ministry to be more efficient in terms of conducting its noble businesses, particularly in terms of promoting our bilateral friendship and cooperation”.

Ambassador Zhao, presenting the donated accessories, said they were being donated to the computer lab of the Liberian Foreign Ministry, and furthered that the Chinese Embassy would aid in the capacity building of the Foreign Ministry staffers in the area of computer skills. He described the donation as a manifestation of the good relationship between the Chinese Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For his part, an optimistic Minister Ngafuan availed the hope that none of his staffers at the Ministry would go without a computer skill. He though acknowledged that his administration inherited the Ministry with a lot of challenges including logistical and skill challenges but disclosed that one major solution out of such was to train the staffers.

“As you know your country emphasizes not  giving fish but giving people the skills on how to fish for themselves, so we decided to establish a computer lab because we are adopting a policy in that Ministry where no one who calls him or herself a staff should say that he or she doesn’t have computer skills. But before then, we must give them the skills”, the Liberian Foreign Minister stated.

He therefore promised the Chinese Ambassador that the donated accessories to the computer lab will be used to enhance the capacities of the Ministry’s staffers.