Remarks by H. E. Chinese Ambassador Qiu Bohua on the Occasion of the Handover and Takeover of the Medicines and Medical Instruments

2010/08/26

Remarks by H. E. Chinese Ambassador Qiu Bohua

 

Dr. Dakulala, Acting Secretary for the Department of Health

Dr. Mokela, Acting CEO of the POM General Hospital

Dr. Wen, the Team leader of the Chinese Aid Medical Team

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Good morning! It is my great pleasure to be invited to this important event of the official handover and takeover of the medicines and medical instruments to be used in Port Moresby General Hospital donated by the Chinese Government.

 

Under the Agreement on the assignment of the Chinese aid medical team between our two Governments, this is the tenth batch of donation of medicines and medical instruments since 2002. It is my sincere wish that these medicines and medical instruments will be put into full use by the doctors and will be helpful to the local patients who are suffering from the pains.

 

The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the development of the friendly bilateral relations between China and Papua New Guinea. Both China and Papua New Guinea are developing countries and we are sharing and suffering many similar challenges, such as health. We are far away from each other from the geographical position while we are so close to each other from the hearts. As a developing country, China not only cares about its own economic and social development, but also that of PNG and other developing countries. During the past years, the Chinese Government has done its best to support and assist PNG in achieving its social developments with the implementation of a dozen of aid projects, including the Sir John Guise Stadium, the Wawin National High School, Kandep Agriculture Station and Wheat Technical Cooperation project, the Lufa Mushroom and Dry Rice project, the Expansion of Students' Dormitory and Teacher's Houses of Vudal University, Lae Fishery Processing and Cold Storage Plant, Wewak Sports Stadium, the upgrade of Papa Lealea Road, Usion Junction-Yamagi Road, Hagen Agriculture Technical Cooperation project, and so on. As for the health sector, the Chinese Government has donated several batches of anti-HIV/AIDS, anti-malaria medicines to the Government of Papua New Guinea. Furthermore, the Chinese Government has dispatched 4 Chinese Aid Medical Teams working in Port Moresby General Hospital to deliver medical services to the local people since 2002. Taking this opportunity, I would like to commend the hard work for many lives saved by the Chinese doctors. Meanwhile, I also would like to encourage Chinese doctors to continue to work hard to provide medical services to the local communities, and make your own contributions to the development of PNG health sector.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

A good momentum has been maintained in the development of our bilateral relations. There were frequent high-level meetings and exchange of visits, growing trade and economic cooperation and fruitful exchange and cooperation in culture, education, health and other fields. Further development of China-PNG friendly relations is in conformity with the common interests of the two peoples. Taking this opportunity, I would like to take the Ramu Nickel and Cobalt project, with total investment of 1.4 billion USD by MCC, as the good example of bilateral mutual-beneficial cooperation. The Ramu Nickel project is a win-win project for our two countries and has got all the legal permits to proceed issued by the PNG Government. It is my firm belief that with the completion of Ramu Nickel project, the foreign confidence of investing in PNG will be boosted, and the bilateral economic relations will be lifted to a higher level. No matter how many difficulties before us, we will move forward for the benefits of our two peoples.

 

Looking ahead, there are great potentials for further expanding our exchange and cooperation in trade, investment, education, health, agriculture and many other fields. Such exchange and cooperation on an equal and mutually beneficial basis is not only conducive to the economic social development of our two countries but also beneficial to the well-being of our two peoples. I sincerely hope that we will join hands and work together to further promote the mutually beneficial cooperation and friendship between our two countries and the two peoples, so as to ensure a sound and stable China-PNG relationship in the years and decades to come.

 

Thank you.