At the peak of bilateral talks with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, China's Foreign Minister Mr. Wang Yi says his country is poised to help Liberia develop its steel industry, as he announces plans to establish a steel plant here.

His announcement comes after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf made such proposal to a visiting 15 man Chinese business delegation last week.

"The highlight of this is that China has committed to helping us to adding value to our products, especially using excess capacity in China, transfer knowledge and helping us to establish things like steel plant, and other things that can help in the job creation effort of our country," Liberia's Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan said Sunday, 9 August.

He said part of the discussion with President Sirleaf, Liberia's Foreign Minister and other officials,was centered on the needs that Liberia has - economic and social, committing that China will speedily help Liberia in increasing its self-dependent through development capacity that will reach out to the entire population.

"... And we will not attach any political conditions or impose or request from any African country," he said, adding that China will encourage it businesses to take more active part and assist development and help to Liberia built industrial structures as a way of sustaining development here.

Mr. Ngafuan says road construction, particularly another highway that can connect Liberia's coastline was also discussed, and Liberian and Chinese authorities will be discussing the modality for accessing funds through "China Funds" to do the feasibility studies for the coastal highway in cooperation with other partners.

Prior to Mr. Yi's arrival here on Saturday, August 8, President Sirleaf had requested China's ore mining company - China Union - through Ambassador Zhan Yue for the establishment of a steel plant in Liberia.

After a bilateral meeting with President Sirleaf Sunday, 9 August, Mr. Yi said China and Liberia have realized the importance of a lasting, stable and strong relationship which is entirely in the interest of a long term and fundamental interest of the people.