Chinese Embassy in Liberia Holds Ambassador’s Meeting with Liberian Media

On August 8, the Chinese Embassy in Liberia held a Chinese ambassador’s meeting with Liberian media. Ambassador Ren Yisheng briefed and elaborated China's position on the Taiwan question, China's economic and social development achievements, China-Africa and China-Liberia friendly cooperation and other issues, and interacted with the participants on related issues. About 30 people attended the event, including Director General Kwame O. Weeks of the Liberia News Agency and other journalists from more than 20 major mainstream media in Liberia and scholars from various think tanks. Mr. Li Jiang, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Embassy presided over the meeting. 

Ambassador Ren focused on clarifying China's solemn position on the visit of the U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to China's Taiwan region, in disregard of China's strong opposition and repeated representations. This is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiqués. It has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for "Taiwan independence". In response to the U.S. provocative actions, China has taken a series of countermeasures to resolutely defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is completely self-defense and has won the general support of more than 100 governments and international organizations. Ambassador Ren appreciated Liberia's affirmation of adherence to the one-China principle through legislation, and thanked the Liberian government and its legislature for reaffirming that Liberia will firmly adhere to the one-China principle and oppose acts that undermine this principle. 

Ambassador Ren emphasized that there is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations. It is the premise and political basis for China to develop friendly and cooperative relations with other countries, and no challenge or misinterpretation is allowed. The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, which is different in nature from the Ukrainian crisis, and no other country is entitled to act as a judge on the Taiwan question. The Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as China's core interests. On this issue, China will not make any compromises or concessions. No country, no forces and no individual should ever misestimate the firm resolve, strong will and great capability of the Chinese Government and people to defend state sovereignty and territorial integrity and to achieve national reunification and rejuvenation. 

Ambassador Ren introduced the achievements China has made in epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) since the beginning of this year, as well as the successful hosting of the Beijing Winter Games, the Paralympic Games, the 14th BRICS Summit and other major events. Ambassador Ren said that in the second half of this year, the 20th National Congress of the CPC will be held in Beijing, which is an important milestone for the CPC and the Chinese people to move towards the second centenary goal after having successfully achieved the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way. 

Ambassador Ren also expounded China's position on human rights issues, pointing out that Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet affairs are purely China's internal affairs and should not be interfered by any external forces. In recent years, Xinjiang has been prosperous and stable, and the people in Xinjiang live and work in peace and contentment. However, at the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council, some Western countries, out of the need to smear and contain China, once again assembled some countries to attack China on so-called human rights issues such as Xinjiang. At the same time, nearly 100 countries made joint or separate statements at the same session to firmly support China's position, which shows that justice will prevail. 

Ambassador Ren emphasized that China has always vigorously promoted China-Africa friendly cooperation based on the principles of sincerity, pragmatism, amity and good faith, and pursuing the greater good and shared interests. With China's help, African countries have made remarkable progress in infrastructure construction, their productivity has been continuously improved, and their people's well-being has been enhanced. Ambassador Ren refuted the so-called "China Debt Trap Theory", pointing out that this is a complete confounding of black and white. Facts have proved that Western private lenders are the initiators of heavy debts on African countries. 

Ambassador Ren pointed out that in recent years, pragmatic cooperation between China and Liberia in various fields has yielded fruitful outcomes. China-aided projects such as the Ministerial Complex and the annexes to the Capitol Hill have been completed. The cooperation projects including the national clinical diagnosis and treatment laboratory and the fingerprint laboratory are progressing steadily, and the people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries have also achieved fruitful results. China is ready to, based on norms and principles of mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs, promote the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations between China and Liberia, continue to deepen the bilateral friendly and pragmatic cooperation, and build a community of shared future between the two peoples. 

Ambassador Ren and Counselor Li Jiang also answered questions from the participants on the Taiwan question, Sino-U.S. relations, Sino-Liberia economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The participants reaffirmed Liberia's firm adherence to the one-China principle, commended the fruitful outcomes of China-Africa and China-Liberia cooperation and the great development achievements of the Chinese people led by the CPC, thanked China for its important contribution to Liberia's economic and social development, and expected that China-Africa and China-Liberia cooperation will continue to reach new heights.