The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the imminent arrival of the first batch of rice donated to the Government of Liberia (GOL) as food aid by the People’s Republic of China.
The first batch, weighing 720 metric tons (about 14,400 bags of 25kg rice), is scheduled to arrive at the Freeport of Monrovia on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Subsequent batches (2, 3, 4 & 5) are expected to arrive throughout October and November 2025, as per the estimated times of arrival (ETA) provided by the shipping vessels.
This generous grant from the government and people of the People’s Republic of China was first announced in a bilateral meeting between His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia, on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on September 6, 2024.
The consignment will be received by the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) Chaired by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, with the Chairperson of the Liberia Rice Committee serving as Vice Chairperson. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the MSC will oversee the transparent and efficient management of this food assistance to ensure it is used for the intended purpose.
The donation is a crucial intervention aimed at bolstering Liberia’s national food security and supporting the government’s efforts to stabilize the rice market for the benefit of all Liberians.
“The Government of Liberia (GOL) extends its profound gratitude to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China for this timely and generous demonstration of solidarity and friendship. This contribution is a testament to the strong cooperation between our two countries and will significantly contribute to addressing food security needs in Liberia,” a Foreign Ministry press release stated.
The grant of 3,600 metric tons of rice to the Republic of Liberia was formalized in an exchange of notes between the two governments by His Excellency Yin Chengwu, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Liberia, and Her Excellency Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
