The Chinese government has pledged 5 million yuan (about 600,000 US dollars) to assist with capacity-building of the Liberian army, a Chinese diplomat said here Thursday.

    He Meng, the second secretary at the embassy, said that the money would be given in the form of material and logistics.

    He said an agreement to this effect was signed in Beijing last week between the two governments during a visit there of Liberian Defense Minister Daniel Chea.

    Technical details, according to the diplomat, would be worked out at a later date.

    The Liberian defense minister had paid a two-week visit to China in search of assistance to jump-start the restructuring exercise of the Armed Forces of Liberia, following 14 years of civil war, during which the army was split into factions.

    According to the defense minister, the Liberian government would need at least 18 million dollars as its obligation, in partnership with the US government, to begin the restructuring exercise.