This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6319457.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
China's leader boosts Liberia aid | China's leader boosts Liberia aid |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Chinese President Hu Jintao has signed a number of agreements with Liberia in Monrovia, pledging more aid and investment to the West African nation. | Chinese President Hu Jintao has signed a number of agreements with Liberia in Monrovia, pledging more aid and investment to the West African nation. |
The deals included the cancellation of $10m (£5m) of Liberia's debt to China and waiving duties on Liberian exports. | The deals included the cancellation of $10m (£5m) of Liberia's debt to China and waiving duties on Liberian exports. |
Mr Hu also promised to help Liberia - which is still recovering from a long civil war - tackle malaria and assist in education and agriculture. | Mr Hu also promised to help Liberia - which is still recovering from a long civil war - tackle malaria and assist in education and agriculture. |
The president, who is on a African tour, is visiting Sudan on Friday. | |
Mr Hu and his Liberian counterpart, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, signed a memorandum of understanding during their talks in Monrovia. | |
It included the formal signing away of $10m debt owed to Beijing. | It included the formal signing away of $10m debt owed to Beijing. |
"Also China has decided to give to Liberia within two years... $25m (£13m)," Liberian Information Minister Lawrence Bropleh said. | "Also China has decided to give to Liberia within two years... $25m (£13m)," Liberian Information Minister Lawrence Bropleh said. |
The money will be spent on projects to help rebuilt Liberia, following the 1989-2003 civil war that ravaged the country. | The money will be spent on projects to help rebuilt Liberia, following the 1989-2003 civil war that ravaged the country. |
On his part, President Hu was seeking to help his country access Liberia's raw materials, including iron ore, for the rapidly-expanding Chinese economy. | On his part, President Hu was seeking to help his country access Liberia's raw materials, including iron ore, for the rapidly-expanding Chinese economy. |
Mr Hu arrived in Liberia from Cameroon, where he had signed grants and loans worth around $100m. | Mr Hu arrived in Liberia from Cameroon, where he had signed grants and loans worth around $100m. |
From Liberia, Mr Hu heads for Sudan - a source of oil for China. | From Liberia, Mr Hu heads for Sudan - a source of oil for China. |
This is the most controversial of his eight-leg African tour, as the Sudanese government is accused of committing human-rights abuses in Darfur, the BBC's Will Ross in Monrovia says. | This is the most controversial of his eight-leg African tour, as the Sudanese government is accused of committing human-rights abuses in Darfur, the BBC's Will Ross in Monrovia says. |
Beijing has so far backed the Sudanese refusal to accept UN peacekeepers in Darfur, our correspondent says. | Beijing has so far backed the Sudanese refusal to accept UN peacekeepers in Darfur, our correspondent says. |