Monrovia – The Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) through its embassy near Monrovia has donated office equipment to the Government of Liberia worth approximately eight million Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY) or US$1.2 million.
The donation, which included 900 pieces of desktop computers, 450 pieces of laptop computers, 100 sets of monochrome laser printers and 50 pieces of monochrome copiers, were presented to the Liberian Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a brief ceremony on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Marjon V. Kamara, Deputy Foreign Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Mr. Dehpue Zuo, thanked the Chinese Government and people, through its Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Mr. Zhang Yue, for the gesture the Deputy Minister described as “one of the largest donations to the Government of Liberia when it comes to office equipment.”
He told the Chinese delegation that the donation came at the appropriate time as the Liberian Government faces serious financial constrains when it comes to budgetary allocation especially for the procurement of office equipment.
“I think that this donation will be a major support to ease the equipment constraints in government offices,” he stated.
Deputy Minister Zuo informed the Chinese envoy that the parastatal responsible for all of government’s assets, the General Services Agency (GSA) and the Foreign Ministry will work together to ensure that other ministries and agencies benefit from the donation.
“Again, I want to say thank you and ask that this should not be your last when it comes to the supply of office equipment,” he added.
He used the occasion to also thank the Chinese Government for the progress being made at the ongoing construction projects – the ministerial complex and extension of the Capitol Building.
Making brief remarks earlier on behalf of Chinese Ambassador Zhang, the Economic Counselor at the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Xiao Mingxiang stated that the donation shows China’s commitment to Liberia. He assured that in the coming months, his government will do a lot more.
The Deputy Minister for Administration, Mr. Edward Eesiah, who joined his colleague Mr. Zuo to receive the items, had earlier welcomed the Chinese delegation to the Foreign Ministry.