Xi pledges deepening support for Liberia

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomes Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Nov 3, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

China looks forward to deepening cooperation with Liberia in key areas such as infrastructure, marine transportation, agriculture, fisheries, production capacity and manufacturing, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday during a meeting with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

China will also help improve public health and epidemic prevention systems and increase government scholarships to provide Liberians with the expertise for their social and economic development, Xi said.

In addition, Xi promised that China will continue to participate in UN peacekeeping efforts in Liberia and help maintain social stability there.

Thanking China as the first country to help fight the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate said: "China is a trustworthy friend".

"Liberia is in a crucial period of national reconstruction and development, and we look forward to cooperation with China in agriculture, infrastructure, education, peacekeeping and maritime areas," Sirleaf said.