LIBERIA – The Dean of Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities of the University of Liberia, Prof. Dr. Josephus M. Gray and the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Liberia, His Excellency Mr. Xu Kun have expressed their firm high hopes for the upward trajectory of Liberia–China relations across a broad range of cooperation in several developmental areas.
According to the Liberian educator with professional backgrounds in Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, and International Relations, and the Chinese Diplomat, the new upward trajectory of the Liberia-China relationship continues to positively impact the two countries in such areas including capacity building and career development, infrastructure development, education and health, and scholarships for Liberian students.
The two distinguished diplomats made the disclosure when Dean of the Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Dr. Gray on Monday paid a courtesy at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) near Monrovia, to discuss and exchange a wide range of salient issues and views, especially about the overseas opportunity for faculty, staffs, and students of the Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College.
Dr. Gray and Mr. Kun stressed the high hopes of China–Liberia’s friendship and corporation, and recounted China’s numerous support to Liberia, especially in the areas of foreign aid, infrastructure development, education, road construction, and capacity building.\
Professor Gray’s courtesy call at the Chinese Embassy highlighted the cardinal interests of both Liberia and China mainly major issues of mutual concern including long and short times capacity building of faculty career development and the establishment of partnerships between higher institutions of learning in China and the Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities.
During the visit on Monday, November 14, 2022, Dr. Gray also in a brief history, introduced Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities (formerly Liberia) as the Second Oldest Institution of higher learning in West Africa and the Fifth Oldest College on the African Continent, was established by the Liberian Government barely fifteen (15) years after the Independence (1847) of the Republic of Liberia.
According to Dr. Gray, Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College is the pioneer of tertiary education in Liberia with a history of academic excellence and tangible achievements in the educational sector and beyond Liberia’s distinct borders. He disclosed that the College has arisen above redemption by placing itself on a new academic trajectory to establish unique collaboration and partnership with other sisterly globally recognized institutions of higher learning and universities across the globe particularly West Europe, the United States of America, Asia, and West Africa, with North and South African in play.
The purpose of the courtesy call was bordered on the Dean’s desire to convey greetings from the institution and to acquaint the most senior Chinese Diplomat at the Chinese Embassy with the College’s achievements, academic programs with an emphasis on quality research, academic excellence, the establishment of partnerships and creative thinking.
He emphasized that China’s current engagement with Liberia has been productively proactive evidenced by the numerous visibility of tangible projects in the country. Professor Gray assured Mr. Kun that the Sawyer College will always work towards sustaining closer ties with the Embassy of China just like other diplomatic missions near Monrovia.
According to Dr. Gray, Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College is always on the lookout for meaningful international collaborations and partnerships. He disclosed that the College successfully signed several MOUs with some of the world’s best academic institutes and universities, adding that the University of Liberia’s alliance with Chinese universities and higher institutions of; learning will further strengthen the institution’s commitment to providing students the best quality education and knowledge.
Prof. Gray noted that China has accomplished in a relatively short period of time what took other developed countries hundreds of years to accomplish and become an upper-middle-income country from a low-income one and made a miraculous economic catch-up far from behind.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Kun expressed the Embassy’s gratitude and openness for cooperation, particularly with the Prof. Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities and the University of Liberia in general.
Mr. Kun likewise reaffirmed the strong relationship, remarking that the relations between China and Liberia have been fruitful and rewarding, and expressed the willingness of China to deepen its cooperation with Liberia.
It can be recalled that Dr. Gray a few months ago presented a copy of his wildly read book titled: Effect of Diplomacy: “Liberia-U.S.-China’s Triangular Relations with the international serial book number, (ISBN): 13:978_1665522557( hard copy); ISBN- 10:1665522550( soft copy published by Amazon.com and on sale in 161 countries across the globe.
The quality book which has gained international recognition has been published by the U.S, Tech-giant Amazon. The book is on sale in 160 countries around the world and is also being translated from English into four other languages including German, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese. The latest book is available online and in international book stores.
The U.S. National Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. has assigned a special registered number, an international Standard Number, and the two authors’ tracking numbers to Prof. Anderson and Dr. Gray’s new books. While copies of the books have been placed in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. for future reference.
The Certificates read: This Certificate is issued under the seal of the Copyright Office in accordance with title 17, United States Code, attest that the registration has been made for identification as indicated on the certificate issued by the US Copyright National Office, adding that the information on this certificate has been made part of the Copyright Office records.
Dr. Gray’s book traces the history of Liberia, the U.S., and China’s triangular relations, their engagement in Africa, and foreign aid support toward African governments and states. It provides insights into America and China’s foreign aid to Africa and also analyzed U.S. foreign aid assistance to African governments and states, and compares that to China’s foreign aid assistance to the African government.
Each copy of the book has been donated to some high-profile personalities including the Office of the President of Liberia, His Excellency Dr. George M. Weah; Hon. Jewel Howard-Taylor, Vice President of Liberia; Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former President of Liberia; Mrs. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General; Hon. Bhofal chambers, Speaker, National Legislature of Liberia; His Excellency, Mr. Michael A. McCarthy, United States Ambassador to Liberia, Mrs. Medina Wesseh, Secretary-General of Mano River Union (MRU), His Excellency Mr. Ren Yisheng, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia; His Excellency Mr. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemaya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honorable James Biney, Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Senator of Maryland County and Hon. Legherhood Julius Renner, Minister of Information and Culture Affairs.
Other personalities and institutions are Prof., Dr. Julius J. S. Nelson, Jr., President of the University of Liberia; Prof. Dr. Souha Akiki, President of Paris Graduate School and Mr. Mouloud Beghdad, Relations officer of CEDS Graduate School in Paris; Bibliotheque Nationale de France; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Abdual Kargno, and Rev. Oliver Harding, Senior Librarian of Faurah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone; Cllr. Blama, Vice President for Legal Affairs, University of Liberia; Prof. Stephen Jubwe, Dean of Faculty and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Liberia; Mr. Charles Coffey, President of Press Union of Liberia and Mr. Philip N. Wesseh, Managing Editor of the Inquirer Newspaper in Monrovia.
