Monrovia – The Government of Liberia has announced the imminent arrival of the first shipment of rice donated by the People’s Republic of China as part of a major food aid package.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first consignment—720 metric tons, equivalent to 14,400 bags of 25kg rice—is expected to dock at the Freeport of Monrovia on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Additional consignments are scheduled to arrive between October and November 2025, based on the estimated times of arrival provided by shipping vessels.
The 3,600-metric-ton grant was first agreed upon during a bilateral meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September 2024.
Oversight of the distribution will be handled by the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC), chaired by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, with the Chairperson of the Liberia Rice Committee serving as Vice Chair. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, alongside the MSC, has pledged to ensure transparent and accountable management of the rice to guarantee it reaches its intended beneficiaries.
The government described the donation as a “timely intervention” aimed at strengthening national food security and helping stabilize the rice market amid growing demand.
“The Government of Liberia extends its profound gratitude to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China for this generous gesture of solidarity and friendship,” the statement noted, stressing that the donation reflects the strong ties between the two nations.
The grant was formalized through an Exchange of Notes signed by Chinese Ambassador Yin Chengwu and Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sara Beysolow Nyanti.
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