Remarks of Ambassador Xiao Jianguo at the 15th Anniversary of Chinese Medical Team Serving in Timor-Leste and the Donation Ceremony of Medicine and Medical Appliances
2019-08-14 21:52

Your Excellency Mr. Bonifácio Maukoli dos Reis, Acting Minister of Health,

Your Excellency Mr. Merício Juvenal dos Reis “Akara”, Secretary of State for Social Communications,

Mr. Afonso Corte Real, Chief of Cabinet of H.E. Prime Minister,

Mr. Aniceto Barreto, General-Director of Guido Valadares National Hospital,

Representatives from the Government of Timor-Leste,

Representatives from the Medical and Healthy institutions,

Representatives from the United Nations Agencies,

Members of Chinese Medical Team,

Representatives from Chinese Enterprises,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

Good Afternoon.

I am pleased to attend the 15th Anniversary of Chinese Medical Team Serving in Timor-Leste and the Donation Ceremony of Medicine and Medical Appliances 2019. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy to Timor-Leste, I would like to extend my cordial welcome to all of you who attended this ceremony. Second, I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to Ministry of Health, line Ministries of Timor-Leste Government, Guido Valadares National Hospital and people from all sectors of Timorese society, who had long helped and supported the China-Timor-Leste health cooperation.

In May this year, China and Timor-Leste signed the governmental protocol of China sending the 8th Medical Team to Timor-Leste, continuing our current health cooperation that started from 2004. To serve Timorese patients as soon as possible, the 8th team soon started working in the National Hospital the next day just after the signing ceremony.

The first China-aided Medical Team was officially dispatched to Timor-Leste in early 2004. Since then, Chinese Medical Teams have been in Timor-Leste and serving Timorese people for 15 years. Over the past 15 years, the Chinese Government has consecutively sent 8 teams, totaling near 100 medics and health experts to Timor-Leste, who have provided premium health service to about 300 thousand Timorese patients free of charge. The Chinese Medical Teams are widely applauded for their dedication to work and high-quality service to the local people, they enjoy the reputation that Chinese doctors are the best. There are many hero doctors and touching stories emerging now and then. The story about Doctor Chen Xujun was one of the examples. She served the first, second, fourth, fifth and the sixth Chinese Medical Team as a gynecologist and team captain. In her 11 years`s mandate here, she helped to deliver over 20 thousand Timorese babies, and was nicknamed as the Timorese Mum.

Meanwhile, Chinese government has also donated 15 batches of medicine and medical appliances to Timor-Leste, worthy of approximate 80 million RMB (about 1.1 million US dollars). In addition, over the past 15 years, the Chinese side has cultivated a large number of medical practitioners and professional doctors for Timor-Leste by sharing the medical practice and skills, carrying out academic exchanges and providing further medical education in forms of human resource programs and scholarships, thus contributing to the overall level of Timor-Leste medical and health service. At the same time, over the past 15 years, governments of Timor-Leste have done their utmost to render support and facilities to the Chinese Medical Teams for their work and life here, I would like to take this chance to express my gratitude and appreciation. The medical cooperation between our two countries during the past 15 years is mutual beneficial, substantive, fruitful and sustainable, therefore has contributed a lot in a historic manner in deepening our friendship.

Ladies and Gentleman,

This year marks the 15th anniversary of China sending Medical Team to Timor-Leste, and marks the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between our two countries. Over the past 17 years, the bilateral relations have developed steady and fast, the political trust has been continuously deepened. Under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative, practical cooperation in all areas including health has been continuously strengthened, bringing concrete and tangible benefits to Timor-Leste people. As we know that a healthy population is a bench mark of a prosperous and strong nation, subsequently, the Timor-Leste government attached great importance to the people`s well-being and health which are the priority of the national development plan of Timor-Leste. From the beginning, Chinese government has always put health area prior in China-Timor-Leste bilateral cooperation. I hope and believe that, with our joint effort, the health cooperation between our two countries in the future will be further strengthened. We both have much to do to contribute to a healthy Timorese population here. In the end, I wish Timor-Leste people strong and healthy, Timor-Leste as a nation strong and prosperous, and the friendship between our two countries strong and long lasting.

Thank you.

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