1st LD-Writethru: China, Liberia agree on all-round cooperative partnership

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with his Liberian counterpart Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Beijing on Tuesday and they agreed to establish an all-round cooperative partnership between the two countries.

"China attaches great importance to the ties with Liberia, and is willing to make joint efforts with the Liberian side to build a comprehensive cooperative partnership," Xi said during the talks at the Great Hall of the People, highlighting the significance of close interactions to enhance mutual understanding between the two nations.

Xi said China stands ready to boost cooperation with Liberia on infrastructure, shipping, farming and fisheries, industrial capacity, and manufacturing to realize sustainable development in the African country and turn its abundant natural resources into outcomes that benefit the Liberian people.

Xi proposed the two sides increase exchanges on medical care, education, culture and mass media to lay a social foundation for bilateral relations.

Hailing the "historic victory" by the Liberian government and people in the fight against the Ebola epidemic, Xi said China is glad to have made contribution to the victory.

Xi pledged that the Chinese government will provide a new round of aid for the three most affected countries in West Africa, namely, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, to support their post-Ebola reconstruction and help them improve their public health system.

In combating Ebola, China provided assistance to 13 countries in and around the affected areas with a total amount of 120 million U.S. dollars and sent over 1,200 medical staffers and experts to the affected countries.

Sirleaf, who is on a state visit to China from Nov. 1 to 5 at Xi's invitation, voiced her gratitude for China's support in Liberia's struggle against Ebola. She said China is a reliable friend of Liberia.

Liberia cherishes the traditional friendship with China, Sirleaf said, adding that her country will stick to the one-China policy and further cement the friendship on the basis of mutual respect, equality and reciprocity.

As Liberia is in an important period of development, Sirleaf said she hopes to learn China's experience and looks forward to closer cooperation with China in various areas.

During Tuesday's talks, Xi said China is willing to boost security cooperation with Liberia and help the country improve the capability of maintaining stability.

"We are willing to increase coordination and cooperation with Liberia on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, peace and development in Africa, and other issues to safeguard the common interests of the developing countries," Xi added.

Xi said China and Africa are "a community of shared destiny" as well as "a community of share interests."

"The unity and cooperation with African countries is always a cornerstone of China's foreign policy," said the Chinese president.

As a summit between China and African countries, within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, is slated to take place on Dec. 4-5 in South Africa, the two presidents pledged joint efforts to make the summit a success.

After the talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of three governmental deals, involving visa facilitation, economic and technology cooperation, and shipping.

Prior to the talks, Xi held a red-carpet ceremony to welcome the Liberian president. Endi