LIBERIA: US/CHINA DIALOGUE ON AFRICA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000289

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W-PDAVIS, AF/RSA-DEPSTEIN, INR/AA-BGRAVES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2017
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN PREL CH LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: US/CHINA DIALOGUE ON AFRICA

REF: A. STATE 24937

B. MONROVIA 00282

C. 06 MONROVIA 01553

D. 06 MONROVIA 00707

MONROVIA 00000289 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: AMBASSADOR DONALD E. BOOTH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) In general, Chinese assistance to Liberia tends to be
well-publicized one-off contributions of goods, technical
assistance, infrastructure, and exchanges, rather than
sustained donor engagement in strengthening specific
institutions or sectors. Since 2003, China has provided
peacekeepers to the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
and currently has approximately 528 troops in Liberia,
primarily engineering units dedicated to providing support
for military projects and infrastructure improvement. China
has granted Liberia duty-free access to its markets for
exports and has agreed to cancel Liberia's matured debt up to
the end of 2005, which amounts to US $11 million. Chinese
Political Counselor told Poloff February 2007 that, during
President Hu Jintao's February 1 visit to Liberia, China
committed to providing US $1 million (Foreign Minister told
Ambassador the amount is $1.5 million) in cash to the
Liberian Government, which the Liberian Government will be
free to spend as it deems most appropriate.


2. (C) Agriculture: In 2006, China donated 630,000 hand-held
farm tools, valued at $1 million. Chinese agricultural
technical assistance teams have conducted training at Booker

T. Washington Institute, a tertiary-level technical training
institute. In September 2006, the Chinese Government also
donated US $250,000 worth of farming equipment, including
tractors and harvesters, to the Booker T. Washington
Institute. We are discussing with the Chinese Embassy the
possibility of a joint effort to establish bamboo furniture
production; China would provide tools and training on
furniture making while the U.S. would provide training to
help the artisans establish viable businesses.

3 (C) Health: In 2006, China donated anti-malaria
medication, as well as other pharmaceuticals to the Ministry
of Health. The Chinese Government runs a military hospital
in Zwedru in Grand Gedeh County that provides services to
Liberians. Chinese Political Counselor told Poloff February
2007 that his government will set up an anti-malaria
treatment center in Monrovia's JFK Hospital, which should be
up and running in approximately 3 months.


4. (C) Education/Exchanges: China provides scholarships for
Liberian students to study in China and agreed to increase
their number during the February 1 visit of President Hu
Jintao. In February 2007, Chinese Political Counselor told
Poloff that most Liberian scholarship recipients have studied
"practical" subjects, such as rice production, computers,
short-term medical training, and accounting. He also said
cultural exchanges will be strengthened and that a "Confucius
Center", a language and cultural center, will be opened in
Liberia.


5. (C) Infrastructure: Chinese companies are renovating the
building housing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Samuel K. Doe sports stadium. The Chinese are reportedly
also working, through an Ivorian company, to clean up the
telecommunications building. Chinese Political Counselor told
Poloff February 2007 that China will provide a US $10 million
grant for rehabilitation of the University of Liberia Fendell
campus, which will be used for a dormitory, faculty housing
and fencing, and will build 3 schools in rural Liberia at
locations yet to be determined. The U.S. will rehabilitate
classrooms at the University of Liberia's Fendell campus and
this is being portrayed by the Liberians as an example of
U.S.-Chinese cooperation in support of Liberia's
reconstruction. In November 2006, he told Poloff that China
and Liberia had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to
renovate and expand the Liberia Broadcasting Corporation in
order to allow it to broadcast throughout Liberia.


6. (C) Security Sector: The Chinese Government provided
computers to the Ministry of Defense and, in 2006, pledged
approximately US $600,000 in logistical support to the
Ministry of Defense in the form of computers, generators,
radios, and vehicles. China also offered assistance in the
future rebuilding the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). The
Chinese gave computers to the Bureau of Immigration and
Naturalization and provided 20 motorbikes (without spare

MONROVIA 00000289 002.2 OF 002


parts) to the Liberia National Police. In September 2006, 25
Liberian Special Security Service (SSS) agents traveled to
China for 4 months of training. Minister of Defense told
DATT March 1 that Liberia accepted China's offer to provide
medical training to the AFL.


7. (C) Commerce: The Chinese Embassy has financed trips to
China by Liberian Business Association delegations to enhance
trade ties. The Chinese Ambassador actively promotes
investment by Chinese firms in Liberia in the following
sectors: resource exploration (especially oil exploration),
rice production, livestock, fishing, and infrastructure.
There are Chinese fish mongers at Monrovia's port and a
number of Chinese-run restaurants in the capital. Chinese
Political Counselor told Poloff November 2006 that during
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's October/November 2006 trip
to China, Liberia and a Chinese company, which is not
state-owned, entered into a "very general" Memorandum of
Understanding regarding renovation of the Liberian port of
Buchanan.
Booth