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ADNews-Monrovia, Liberia: In a significant milestone for China-Liberia relations and the advancement of healthcare in Liberia, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Yin Chengwu, officially handed over a newly constructed and fully equipped cardiology department to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK) on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. The project, part of China’s continued support for Liberia’s health sector, marks the first dedicated cardiology ward in the country.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Ambassador Yin expressed deep pride in the collaborative achievement and underscored the project’s symbolic and practical significance.
“This moment represents far more than the handover of a facility, it is the culmination of a committed partnership built on shared vision, mutual respect, and tireless effort,” said the Ambassador.
The ceremony was attended by Liberia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Louise Kpoto; CEO of JFK Medical Center,. Dr. Linda Birch; Dr. Wang Weimin, Director of Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital in China; members of the China Medical Team; and other dignitaries.
The cardiology project is a direct outcome of President Xi Jinping’s proposal at the 73rd World Health Assembly in 2020, which launched cooperation among 30 China-Africa paired hospitals. This project, between China’s Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital and Liberia’s JFK Medical Center, is the first of its kind to be completed and inaugurated under the initiative.
The facility is expected to dramatically improve Liberia’s capacity to prevent, diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate cardiovascular conditions. Patients who previously had to travel abroad for specialized care will now have access to advanced cardiac diagnostics and treatment locally.
“This project translates directly to faster diagnoses, more effective treatments, and, ultimately, lives saved,” Ambassador Yin emphasized.
Ambassador Yin highlighted that beyond infrastructure and equipment, the project also focused on empowering Liberian healthcare professionals. Medical staff from JFK underwent comprehensive hands-on and online training programs conducted by experts from Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital.
“The real legacy of this initiative lies in the knowledge transfer and skills imparted to local healthcare professionals,” said the Ambassador. “These trained doctors and nurses will become seeds of sustainable development, creating a multiplier effect for years to come.”
This approach, he said, reflects China’s broader health cooperation philosophy: shifting from “blood transfusion” to “blood creation,” ensuring long-term self-sufficiency rather than dependency.
The cardiology department is one among several collaborative health projects between China and Liberia. Others include the China-Liberia Malaria Prevention & Control Center, the China-Liberia Friendship Hospital (JFD), and the National Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Laboratory Project at the 14th Military Hospital. The recently signed 2022–2027 protocol for the continued dispatch of Chinese medical teams to Liberia further demonstrates this enduring partnership.
These efforts align with the outcomes of the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit, where health was identified as a key pillar under China’s “Ten Partnership Actions” with Africa.
“China remains a steadfast partner to Liberia,” Ambassador Yin stated. “As our practical cooperation continues to deepen, so too will the strategic partnership between our two nations.”
He concluded by reaffirming China’s support for Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), and for building a global community of health for all.
“In the pursuit of health, we are stronger together,” he said. “Health knows no borders; collaboration is the bridge to healing.”
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