Your Excellency Mr. Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Martins,
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries,
Your Excellency Mr. Abel Pires Ximenes,
President of Committee E, National Parliament
Your Excellency Mr. Alexandrino de Araújo,
Secretary of State for Civil Protection
Your Excellency Mr. António Guterres,
President of the Municipality of Baucau
Your Excellency Mr. Constâncio Pinto,
Former Minister of Commerce, Industry and the Environment
Representatives from the National Parliament, the Government and different Political Parties,
Representatives from Chinese Enterprises and Institutions, Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
Good morning!
I am very pleased to attend the ground-breaking Ceremony of the China-aided Project of Grain Depot and Grain Processing Facility in Timor-Leste. It is the first grain depot ever aided by China, which is of great significance in the history of China`s foreign aid. Particularly, it witnessed another important friendly cooperation between China and Timor-Leste. First of all, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese government, to extend my cordial congratulations to the VIII Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste and its people on the ground breaking of the Project.
It has been 5 years since Timorese government proposed this project to the Chinese government in February 2014. With the constant and vigorous efforts from relative authorities of our two sides, the Project finally breaks ground today. Special thanks go to the National Logistic Center under the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, who has always been cooperating with and helping the Chinese side on this project. The project management enterprise from China is an association of China Grain Wuhan Science Research & Design Institute Co., Ltd. and Hubei Hualong Engineering Construction Supervision Co., Ltd., who is new to Timor-Leste. The project constructor as well as contractor is China`s Shanghai Construction Group Co., Ltd. who has already registered and operated in Timor-Leste for years. To accomplish the project with high quality on time, I hope that the relevant Chinese companies could cooperate closer with relevant Timor-Leste departments and communities according to the Implementation Agreement between our two governments, perform a good job including downstream technical service, and share Chinese technology and experiences in construction, management of the grain depot, and the storage and processing of food with Timorese unreservedly and wholeheartedly.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As the Chinese saying goes Food is the first necessity of human being. In Timor-Leste, over 80% of the population relies on agriculture which has always been the focus of the successive Timorese governments. To realize food self-sufficiency, to reduce hunger and malnutrition, and finally to improve people`s livelihood and diversify the economy is always Timor-Leste`s priority. China is also a traditional big agricultural power. By far, both countries have conducted some cooperation in cultivation of hybrid rice, corn and fishing and etc. and China has offered Timor-Leste some agriculture equipments as well. Today`s grain depot Project really does open a new page for China- Timor-Leste agricultural cooperation, which is of great relevance and significance to Timor-Leste. On the one hand, it will greatly promote grain production, satisfy the local demand, strengthen a macro control of grain supply to ensure the national food security. As is known to all, aflatoxin is one of the contaminants which is likely to cause cancer. Grains like rice, if not properly preserved, is extremely vulnerable to decay and contamination, thus hazardous to people`s lives. Once completed, the grain depot will provide a safe and sound storage and a technical approach for keeping grains. This will greatly incentivize local farmers to grow and sell more crops. The Timorese dream that Timorese rice feeds Timorese people will come true. It can be expected that, with the continuing effort of Timorese government, the vast plains in the east and south will become a big bread-basket for Timor-Leste. On the other hand, it will promote the development of food processing industry and streamline other related industries including logistics, thus diversify the economy. Once completed, the Project can perform some initial processing of grains, thus making food or feed classified and diversified, and the nutrition enhanced. Not only people's need can be better satisfied, but also livestock and fish can be fed.With the development of food processing industry and logistics, more jobs can be created. In short, the grain depot and processing is of great importance to all-round development of Timor-Leste national economy.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are aware that China and Timor-leste enjoy a long-standing and well-established friendship. China is the first country that recognized the independence of Timor-Leste, it is also the first country that established diplomatic ties with Timor-Leste. Over the past 17 years, the bilateral relations have developed rapidly in an all-round manner; political trust has been continuously deepened; mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as trade, agriculture, health, infrastructure and irrigation has been steadily strengthened, therefore, bringing concrete and tangible benefits to people of our two countries. Looking to the future, the steadfast development of Timor-Leste agriculture is promising, and China Timor-Leste agricultural cooperation is of great potential. Gifted with long coastline, abundant arable land and sufficient sunshine and rain, Timor-Leste is blessed with advantages for developing eco-friendly farming, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery. China is willing and capable to cooperate comprehensively with Timor-Leste in the above mentioned areas. In the spirit of justice and shared interest, win-win cooperation and mutual development, China would like to work with Timorese to enhance food security, improve the people`s livelihood and promote economic development of Timor-Leste.
Last month, Your Excellency Minister of Agriculture and fisheries of Timor-Leste visited China and held friendly meetings with China`s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Central Administration of Customs. They discussed about issues concerning the bilateral agricultural cooperation, and the inspection and quarantine of Timorese distinctive agricultural products aimed to export to China. I hope and I am sure that, with our joint effort, the bilateral agricultural cooperation between our two countries is full of opportunities with a bright future, and that the China-aided Project of grain depot and processing facility will be a final success, bringing our bilateral cooperation and our friendship to a new high.
In the end, I wish Timorese people healthy and happy, Timor-Leste strong and prosperous, the China Timor-Leste Friendship long last.
Thank you.