Your Excellency Mr. José Agustinho da Silva,
Minister of Transport and Communications
Your Excellency Mr. Joaquim José Gusmão dos Reis Martins,
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries,
Your Excellency Mr. Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus,
Minister for Defence
Your Excellency Mr. José Manuel Ramos-Horta,
Former President and Former Prime Minister of Timor-Leste.
Your Excellency Mr. Faustino da Costa,
General Commander of PNTL
Your Excellency Mr. Demétrio de Amaral de Carvalho,
Secretary of State for the Environment
Your Excellency Mr. Mário Ximenes,
Secretary of State for Land and Property
Representatives from Chinese Enterprises and Institutions, Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
Good Morning.
I am very pleased to attend the Launching Ceremony of the Quarry Blasting for the Tibar Bay Port Project. As we know, there's a regulation in Timor-Leste to ban, in general, all explosions, but special permission was given by Timor-Leste government to the Project Constructor, China Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. to use explosives in the earthwork for this Project, which is essential and critical to ensure on-time success of the whole Project. Today's blasting is the first explosion since Timor-Leste regained independence, so today's ceremony is of great significance. Many distinguished guests and representatives from the line Ministries of Timor-Leste come today to witness the first quarry blasting in Timor-Leste`s history. Your presence here shows that Timor-Leste government does attach great importance to this Project. Thank you for coming and thank you for your support.
Infrastructure is the development priority for Timor-Leste. In recent years, Timor-Leste witnesses an increasing investment in road upgrading and harbors & airports construction, which have made for great changes and achievements. I was invited to attend some events held in Suai, Manatuto, Natabola, Baucau and Lautem, during which I saw with my own eyes and I was deeply touched by the fast infrastructure development of Timor-Leste, in particular the improvement and upgrading of road networks. In April, H.E. Mr. Xanana Gusmão attended the 2nd Belt and Road Forum (BFR) and delivered an important speech at the thematic forum of Infrastructure Connectivity. He pointed out that infrastructure projects under Belt and Road Initiative is of great significance to the social and economic development of the developing countries including Timor-Leste.
Infrastructure is the key area of China Timor-Leste practical cooperation, in which Chinese Enterprises have actively and widely participated. At present, there are approximately 20 Chinese Enterprises operated in areas related to infrastructure. Among which, China Harbor whose parent company China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), a Global Fortune 500, is one of the companies that has the integrated ability of investment, construction and operation covering the whole industrial chain. Generally speaking, Chinese companies enjoy good management, expertise and advanced technologies in construction of urban buildings, roads and bridges, airports and seaports, having made great contributions to the infrastructure development of Timor-Leste. As the contractors in Timor-Leste, Chinese companies go through the international bidding that are open, fair and transparent on the same footing with others and finally they win. Not only have they saved much infrastructural costs for Timor-Leste government, but also they created many job opportunities for the local people, who were trained to be skilled workers, contributing to the economic diversification and sustainable development of Timor-Leste. At the same time, Chinese companies actively take on social responsibilities. They repair rural roads, bridges and schools for local villages and communities free of charge, trying to integrate into local community and build harmonious relations. I hope the Chinese companies will continue the good practice to be hardworking, down to earth and efficient in their work, abide by the local laws, improve environmental protection measures, localize their management, carry out social responsibilities to serve the local and contribute to the social and economic development of Timor-Leste.
Infrastructure is also the priority area of China Aid. Over the past 17 years of China Timor-Leste diplomatic relations, China has provided much assistance to Timor-Leste infrastructure within its capabilities. The Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace, the office buildings of MNEC and MODS are signposts of the friendship between our two countries. Last month, we also witnessed the start of China-aided DTMB Project, a digital TV program and the China-aided Grain Depot and Grain Processing Facilities Project, which are the signs of our friendship deepening and strengthening.
Looking forward to the future, with the implementation of Timor-Leste national development strategy, the Tasi Mane project in particular, there will be more need for infrastructure development. Cooperation in this area between our two countries is of enormous potential. I hope that Chinese companies can seize this opportunity, and hope the practical cooperation between us can be further strengthened so as to improve the infrastructure and people`s well-being of Timor-Leste within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. With our joint effort, I believe that the practical cooperation between our two countries will be more promising, our bilateral relations further developed.
Finally let me wish every success to the first quarry blasting.
Thank you.