MONROVIA, November 25 (LINA) - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called for enhanced bilateral talks between the Governments of Liberia and China to forge additional cooperation between both countries.

The Liberian leader said she looks forward to holding bilateral talks with the visiting Chinese envoy that will focus on partnership in agriculture, education, health and the private sector.

“I hope we will together examine where we want to go after the Ebola crisis and emphasize on restoring our overall healthcare delivery system and the revitalization of our economy to enable us be in the position to prevent any possible recurrence of this deadly disease,” President Sirleaf said.

She was speaking Tuesday at the dedicatory ceremony of a 100-bed Ebola Treatment Unit constructed by the Government of China at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex in the Monrovia suburb of Paynesville.

President Sirleaf noted that even as both countries enjoy long-standing partnership, she looks forward to a greater partnership that goes beyond the current one, especially in the area of Ebola response.

She lauded the United Nations and its specialized agencies and other partners for their cooperation with Liberia because, she noted, it adds to the support and work China is currently doing.

The Chinese delegation at the program was headed by China’s Vice Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission, Cui Li, Ren Guoquan, and included the Director-General of Health Department and Chinese Ambassador, Zhang Yue.

President Sirleaf was accompanied by Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan, Minister of Internal Affairs Morris Dukuly, Information Minister Lewis Brown and outgoing Health Minister Walter Gwenigale, among others.
LINA