LOFA COUNTY, Liberia – Chinese Ambassador Yin Chengwu has reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Liberia’s development, describing the completion of the 81-kilometer Gbarnga–Salayea Road as a major milestone for the country’s economic transformation and a testament to the enduring friendship between China and Liberia.
Speaking Monday at the official dedication ceremony in Lofa County, Ambassador Yin congratulated the Government and people of Liberia on the successful completion of the strategic road project, which was officially commissioned during activities marking Liberia’s 179th Independence Day celebrations.
He commended the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for their leadership in implementing the project and praised the China Henan International Cooperation Group (CHICO) for delivering the road.
He also recognized the contributions of Liberian subcontractors, engineers, and workers, whose collaboration with the Chinese team ensured the successful completion of the project.
“Their close cooperation with the Chinese team made this project possible and reflects the true spirit of partnership, local participation, and shared success,” Ambassador Yin said.
The Chinese envoy described the Gbarnga–Salayea Road as a vital component of Liberia’s Northern Corridor, emphasizing that improved infrastructure is essential to national development.
According to him, the newly completed highway will strengthen connectivity between counties, facilitate trade, reduce transportation costs, expand access to markets, support agricultural production and commercial activities, create employment opportunities, and improve the daily lives of Liberians.
Ambassador Yin also praised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration for prioritizing infrastructure development under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
He said the commissioning of the road reflects the government’s determination to improve public services, promote economic growth, and enhance the welfare of the Liberian people.
Highlighting the relationship between the two countries, Ambassador Yin said China and Liberia continue to enjoy a longstanding partnership founded on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit.
He noted that bilateral relations entered a new phase of strategic partnership following the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Joseph Nyuma Boakai during the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Since then, he said, cooperation between the two countries has expanded significantly, particularly in infrastructure development.
The ambassador noted that the Gbarnga–Salayea Road project was awarded through Liberia’s public procurement process and successfully completed by CHICO, demonstrating both the Liberian Government’s confidence in Chinese companies and the technical expertise of Chinese contractors operating in the country.
Looking ahead, Ambassador Yin reaffirmed China’s commitment to encouraging more qualified Chinese enterprises to invest in Liberia, create jobs, transfer knowledge and technical skills, and contribute to the country’s sustainable development.
He expressed confidence that the strategic partnership between China and Liberia would continue to strengthen business cooperation, attract greater investment, and support Liberia’s modernization while creating shared prosperity for both nations.
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Yin referenced a well-known Chinese proverb, saying, “If you want to get rich, build roads first.”
He stressed that investment in roads is an investment in infrastructure, development, and the future, expressing hope that the Gbarnga–Salayea Road will serve not only as a transportation corridor but also as a lasting road of opportunity, connectivity, and shared prosperity for the Liberian people.
