Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf praised the Chinese government for extending assistance to help rebuild its military. (Photo : REUTERS)
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf praised the Chinese government for donating equipment in support of efforts for the rebuilding of a new Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), the Xinhua News Agency reported.
The Liberian leader said on Wednesday, Feb. 10, that the donation, valued at $3 million, came at the right time since most of the equipment used by the Liberian army have now broken down.
Sirleaf pledged to use the donated equipment for its intended purposes, the report said.
Military equipment donated by the China government included 20 heavy-duty trucks, two graders, 10,000 sets of uniforms, and 40 military tents.
"We are here to participate in the demonstration of true partnership; a partnership that comes to you at a time when you are really in need," the president said.
The report added that the donation was the second batch of substantive military assistance handed over by China to Liberia, during the tour of duty of Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, Zhang Yue.
The Chinese envoy stressed that in the past decade, China has been actively assisting the Liberian government and its people in their efforts to rebuild the country.
"We take Liberia's priorities as our assistance priorities and aim at bringing tangible benefit to the Liberian people," Zhang added.
Zhang also expressed appreciation of the economic achievements made by the Liberian government led by President Sirleaf and the accelerated infrastructure construction, as he stressed that the donation was another proof of China's sincere and strong support for Liberia in its efforts to keep peace and maintain social stability, especially during the course of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and Liberia's post-Ebola recovery.
In his address at the U.N. Peacekeeping Summit in October last year, President Xi Jinping vowed to provide $100 million in military aid to the African Union's standby force over the next five years.
Xi also said that China will provide a helicopter squad to assist U.N. peace operations in Africa and will offer military training to 2,000 peacekeepers from other countries in the next five years.
