By Sara Camera
Monrovia, Liberia – A delegation led by Honorable Sang Weiliang, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Guizhou Provincial People’s Congress, China, concluded a successful official visit to Monrovia, Liberia, this week, marking a significant step in strengthening the relationship between the city of Monrovia and Guizhou Province. The delegation received a warm welcome from residents, Mayor John Charuk Siafa, and the Monrovia City Council, reflecting the growing ties between Guizhou and the Liberian capital.
The visit builds on a foundation of cooperation established in recent years, encompassing knowledge sharing, cultural exchange, and people-to-people diplomacy aimed at fostering mutual understanding and respect. Guizhou province, home to 35 million diverse people, has already demonstrated its commitment to Monrovia through material and educational support. Notably, the province has provided twenty academic scholarships for young Monrovians to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies in China. Furthermore, Guizhou donated a fire truck to the city, addressing a critical need.
During a welcoming ceremony, Mayor Siafa expressed his gratitude to Vice Chairperson Weiliang and the delegation for their visit and contributions to the city’s development. Vice Chairperson Weiliang reciprocated the sentiment, thanking the people of Monrovia for their hospitality and emphasizing the strategic importance of the Liberia-China people-to-people relationship.
The chairperson of the Monrovia City Council and senior political advisor to the President of the Republic of Liberia, the Honorable Madam Macdella Cooper decorated Vice Chairperson Weiliang upon his arrival at the Monrovia City Hall where he received the key to the city.
Beyond expressions of goodwill, the visit focused on identifying concrete areas for future collaboration. On Friday, senior officials from key Liberian government agencies, including the Ministries of Land and Energy; Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism; Commerce and Industry; the Liberia National Economic Zone Authority; and the Monrovia City Corporation, held a joint technical meeting with the Chinese delegation. The discussions centered on potential partnerships and cooperation, aiming to yield significant dividends for both sides.
Guizhou’s economy, characterized by its rich natural resources, growing data hub industry, and impressive economic growth in the secondary and tertiary sectors, offers unique opportunities for collaboration. The province is rapidly transforming itself into a national computing network hub.
Guizhou has made significant strides in expanding its computing power since being designated a national hub in May 2021. Its overall computing power has doubled by late 2024, exceeding 57 EFLOPS. The province now provides 23% of the country’s total computing power, with computing transactions worth 11.35 billion yuan ($1.56 billion) completed by late 2024. Guizhou is actively developing diverse application scenarios, including clustered data centers and intelligent terminals, with the goal of reaching a scale of 100 billion yuan for each.
The province’s prowess in the computing sector is even being leveraged by the film industry. The Gui’an Supercomputing Center has assisted in rendering more than 50 films, including notable titles like “The Wandering Earth,” “Deep Sea,” and “The Three-Body Problem.” More than 40% of the special effect’s shots from the popular animated film “Ne Zha 2” were rendered using computing power generated in Guizhou.
During the delegation’s visit from Thursday, May 15 to Sunday May 18, 2025, His Excellency Yin Chengwu, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, played a significant role in the two sides exchange.
The successful visit of the Guizhou delegation signifies a deepening of ties between the province and the city of Monrovia, paving the way for future collaborations in various sectors and contributing to the growth and prosperity of both regions. The meeting is expected to give rise to more progress and opportunities. Watch the welcoming reception ceremony at city hall on the social media link below: https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=2540766089589405
Pictorials from the welcome ceremony and visit of Vice Chairperson Sang Wenliang and delegation
