Monrovia – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has described the completion of the renovated Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville City outside Monrovia as a clear demonstration of the birth of China friendship with Liberia.
President Sirleaf made the description during program marking the turning over of the sports complex to the Liberian government by the Chinese Government on July 22, 2017.
The 35,000-seat stadium was built in 1986 and was first renovated in 2007 the government of Liberia announced a US$7.5 million renovation funded by the Chinese government in 2005.
The Hunan Constructing Engineering Group began work in 2005 and completed the renovation in 2007 when the stadium was turned over to the Liberian government.
The Liberian government in 2014 announced a US$18 million renovation funded again by the Chinese government.
Two years after the start of the second renovation, the stadium was officially completed in April 2017.
Presidents Said appreciated the People’s Republic of China for helping to rebuild Liberia is all sectors.
Madam Sirleaf: “They have supported our development agenda in all areas of our endeavor, agriculture, education, health, transportation and beyond that they are during things in areas that are not directly with their financial support but been able with the support of others.”
The Liberian leader said the government of China is always with Liberia in times of trouble when much of the world was not around, China was the first that sent a plane to be able to bring relief to us in those difficult days.
“We owe a lot to you but we expect that this friendship is going to continue that those ongoing projects that you demonstrated in the video will come to completion.
Youth and Sports Minister Saah Charles N’Tow also paid respect to the people of China for their kind gesture and the cordial relationship between Liberia and China.
Minister N’ Tow narrated that the just ended renovation work of the complex is different because when it started in 2014, it was interrupted by the Ebola virus because of the deadly virus the compound of the complex was occupied with displace people who made the work more difficult after vandalizing some of the equipment that were not part of the renovation.
The Charge D’affair at the China Embassy said he was happy to be present at the dedication ceremony of the SKD Stadium.
Mr. LI Zhuang explained that the SKD Stadium has been serving as the most popular stadium in Liberia since 1987 and after the 20 months of hard work since 2015 the national stadium is ready for international matches.
“As an old Chinese saying goes, a sound personality comes from a strong body and from perspective this stadium is not the only place for sports activity, but also a place for igniting the spirit of competition and corporation, solidarity and striving forward”, the Charge D’affair at the China Embassy said.
Reposted from FrontPage Africa.
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