On July 9th, Amb. Li Zhenjun handed over a Soldier's Club built with Chinese Government aid funds to PNG Defense Force. Commodore Peter Ilau, Commander of PNGDF, Mr. Liu Tielin, Economic and Commercial Councilor of the Chinese Embassy, and the project builder, COVECk,witnessed the handover ceremony.
Amb. Li Handed over the Key of the Club to Commodore Ilau
In his speech (see text in Ambassador's Remarks), Amb. Li Zhengjun indicated that together with the maintenance of the sports stadium, the construction of a boxing ring, and a donation of sports equipments worth 50,000 kina (110,000 RMB yuan), the transfer of the soldier's club signified the success of the military aid project, offered by the Chinese government to PNGDF. Amb. Li hoped that the servicemen of the PNGDF could make good use of the sport facilities and the club and get well prepared for national defensive tasks. Amb. Li also briefed the audience on Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Somare's official visit to China in February. He pointed out that the leaders of the China and PNG had both expressed their strong wills to advance the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries, and the PNG government gives its valuable support to the Chinese government and people by reiterating in the "Joint Press Communiqué" that PNG would continue to adhere to the One China policy and oppose "Taiwan independence." Amb. Li also updated the audience on the cooperation in trade and investment, culture and education, defense, and public health. When Amb. Li learned that a library was also built in the soldier's club, he announced immediately that he will give a set of English books about China and this was warmly welcomed by a thunder of applause.
Amb. Li has also named the pavilion in the yard of the club "Friendship Pavilion" and wrote it in Chinese caligrary. He expressed the hope that the friendship between our two peoples will grow stronger by each passing day.
A Panorama of the Friendship Pavilion
Commodore Ilau extended his sincere thanks to the Chinese Government and Amb. Li for providing the military assistance project worth 2 million RMB yuan to the PNGDF, whick lacked an entertainment complex for many years. He encouraged the PNGDF servicemen and their families to make good use of the club. He also expressed his appreciation of the 5 scholarships offered by the Chinese Ministry of Defense to the PNG military officers. He indicated that the trainees highly commended the training courses offered by the Chinese military universities and colleges. He also made a proposal to establish an alumni for the PNGDF officers who have studied in China.
Amb. Li and his entourage were warmly welcomed by the PNGDF guards of honor, three singsing groups, and about three hundred servicemen and their family members.
A Special Welcome
EMTV, National Broadcasting Corporation, and the newspaper of "the National" covered the ceremony respectively in their news report.