The Chinese Embassy in Liberia, last Friday, January 24, celebrated the Chinese New Year, known also as the Spring Festival.
This year is regarded as the “Year of the Snake”, and the annual celebration is being recognized by countries around the world, not only China.
“The Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival for the Chinese people. It not only symbolizes reunion and joy, but also carries the love and longing that every Chinese person has for its family and motherland”, Yin Chengwu, China Ambassador to Liberia said.
In last December, “Spring Festival, Social Practices of the Chinese People in Celebration of the Traditional New Year”, was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
The “Chinese New Year” has become the “World New Year”, Ambassador Yin said.
Ambassador Yin explained that over the past year, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Secretary General Xi Jinping at its core, China pressed ahead with Chinese modernization with vigor and determination and Chinese diplomacy has taken the lead in shaping global trends. China acted on the blueprint drawn up at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC and carried forward its great cause of national development marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
China’s economy, he revealed, showed positive signs of recovery, with GDP growing by 5% and expected to exceed 130 trillion yuan RMB. China’s total grain production amounted to 706.50 million tons. China’s annual production of new energy vehicles exceeded 10 million units for the first time. China’s Chang’e-6 mission successfully completed the first-ever lunar far-side sample collection in human history.
“The grand vision of Chinese modernization is gradually becoming a tangible reality.”
Amb. Yin told the audience that “On the international stage, China has actively advocated for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, promoted the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and successfully hosted the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and the Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).”
He indicated that in major international platforms, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, APEC, and the G20, China has proposed its own initiatives, contributing invaluable stability to this uncertain world. China is leading the trend of peaceful development and win-win cooperation.
According to him, in the face of a turbulent international situation, China’s diplomacy will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, and strive to promote world peace and the common progress of humanity.
He disclosed that in the New Year, China will be committed to jointly building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era and deepening solidarity and cooperation among the Global South.
Moreover, the senior Chinese diplomat said that China will continue to work together with Liberia to open up a brighter future for China-Liberia relations. 2025 is the first year for the implementation of the outcomes of the FOCAC Summit, as well as the official launch of Liberia’s ARREST Inclusive Development Agenda and the County Development Agendas.
“We are willing to work with Liberia in line with President Xi Jinping’s six propositions on modernization and ten partnership actions, taking the implementation of the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of the FOCAC Summit as an opportunity to strengthen the deep alignment of the two countries’ development strategies”, Ambassador Yin stressed.
“We will continue to support on each other’s core interests and major concerns, enhance coordination and cooperation in international affairs, actively promote China-Liberia practical cooperation to yield more fruitful results, and continuously promote China-Liberia strategic partnership to a new level”, Amb. Yin added.
For his part, Liberia’s Minister of State Sylvester Grigsby Liberia-China, strategic cooperation represents a new beginning. Minister Grigsby acknowledged China’s development program and assistance to Liberia in the amount of $50 million.
“We are proud that our relationship continues to grow from year to year and we want to express our appreciation to the People’s Republic of China”, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Sylvester Grigsby said.
Minister Grigbsy reaffirmed Liberia’s adherence to the “One China Policy”, and added that the People’s Republic of China has done extremely well by lifting over 800 million out of poverty.
“China is going to build Liberia’s first overpass bridges, and education is a high priority as many young Liberians are going to China, and this has created unique linkages between the two countries”, Minister Grigsby noted.
Minister Grigsby commended China for providing healthcare and a better life for the Chinese people, adding that Liberia is hopeful that a high-profile or top-ranked Chinese official will visit the country soon.
Senate Pro-Tempore Senator Nyonblee K. Lawrence lauded China for supporting the Liberian Legislature, especially the construction of the Capitol Building Annex, the seat of the Liberian parliament.
Written by Nicholas Dweh Nimley, a Liberian Journalist.
