Your Excellency Mr. Merício Juvenal dos Reis "Akara",
Secretary of State for Social Communications,
Your Excellency Ms. Maria Terezinha Viegas,
Secretary of the Bureau of the National Parliament
Your Excellency Ms. Virgínia Ana Belo,
President of Commission D, National Parliament
Your Excellency Ms. Albina M. Freitas,
President of Commission G, National Parliament
Your Excellency Mr. Nicolau Lino Freitas Belo,
Vice-Minister of Public Works
Your Excellency Mr. Arsénio Pereira da Silva,
Secretary of State for Cooperatives
Your Excellency Mr. Nélio Isaac Sarmento,
Secretary of State for Youth and Sport
Your Excellency Mr. Téfilo Caldas,
Secretary of State for Arts and Culture
Your Excellency Mr. Francisco Kalbuady Lay,
Secretary-General of CNRT
Your Excellency Mr. Olímpio Branco,
Former Timorese Ambassador to China
Representatives from the National Parliament and the Government,
Representatives from the Project Management Company and the Contractor,
Representatives from Chinese Enterprises and Institutions, Friends from the Media,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
Good morning!
It is a real delight to join you the Commencement Ceremony of the China-aided Digital Television Terrestrial Multimedia Broadcasting (DTMB) Demonstration Project in Timor-Leste. First of all, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese government, to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Timor-Leste and its people on the commencement of the project. Today is a day worth celebrating, because the lunching of the project marks that Timor-Leste will soon have its own DTMB system. This will greatly improve the culture life and entertainment of Timor-Leste people, enhance the capacity building of media and social communications in Timor-Leste, and further strengthen bilateral understanding and friendship between our two countries. The project is a milestone in the media and social communications cooperation between our two countries.
This project is also the fruit of friendship between our two countries and people, it witnessed the committed efforts we spared together. It has been 5 years since the Secretary of State for Social Communications of the Ⅲ Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste proposed this project to the Chinese government in January 2014. It witnessed 6 Timorese Governments and 3 Chinese Ambassadors. Through the years, though Timor-Leste has experienced changes of governments and the persons concerned, the China-Timor-Leste friendship always keeps the same and China has been consistent in its promise. With the constant and vigorous efforts from our two sides, this year, positive development has been achieved in this project. In March, Mr. "Akara" and I signed the Implementation Agreement for the Project. Today, we gather here to celebrate the unveiling of the project.
Timor-Lest government put great efforts to develop media and social communications. The media software and hardware technology as well as journalistic quality have been constantly improved. Timorese media is becoming an important window for the world to observe and understand Timor-Leste. I hope that Timor-Leste media will keep objective and authentic in reporting, as well as more coverage about China and the works done by the Chinese enterprises and institutions here, who have created many job opportunities for the Timor-Leste, benefited local people, and contributed greatly to the economic and social development of Timor-Leste. Media plays a very important role in learning from each other and enhancing mutual understanding. I hope, through the media`s role, the China-Timor-leste friendship and practical cooperation will be further developed.
Since the beginning of the project, the Chinese team has been supported and helped by the successive governments especially the Secretary of State for Social Communications. I would like to take this chance to thank you all. We still depend on your support and cooperation in the future. Both the National Engineering Laboratory for Digital TV(Bei Jing) and the China Potevio Co., Ltd. are new to Timor-Leste. I hope that both can soon adapt to the new environment, be hard-working and trustworthy, operate according to the local rules and laws, cooperate closely with relevant Timor-Leste departments according the Implementation Agreement, and accomplish the great mission with high quality on time. In mean time, I also hope that both companies take on their social responsibilities, have more local employees and train them, share Chinese DTMB standard, technology and experiences with Timor-Leste government and people unreservedly and wholeheartedly.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We know that, China and Timor-leste enjoy a long-standing and well-established friendship. Upon the restoration of Timor-Leste`s independence on 20th May, 2002, China established diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste. This year marks the 17th anniversary of the establishment of China-Timor-Leste diplomatic ties. 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 economy, media and social communications, agriculture and health has been steadily strengthened, therefore, bringing concrete and tangible benefits to people of our two countries. The China Timor-Leste relations can serve as an example of equal treatment, friendliness and win-win cooperation among all nations, large and small. 6 years ago, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative that has attracted more and more active participants including Timor-Leste. In April, 2019, his Excellency, the former President and former Prime Minister, the Chief Negotiator for Maritime Boundaries, Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão attended the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing and delivered an important speech. During the forum, he had meetings with the Chinese vice foreign minister H.E. Mr. Kong Xuanyou, and some Chinese enterprise headquarters. I hope and I am sure that with the continuing high level exchanges between our two countries and the practical cooperation in different sectors, our bilateral relations will reach a new high.
The world is now in the midst of profound and complex changes, both China and Timor-Leste are in an important period for development. China is willing and able to carry out comprehensive cooperation in different areas with Timor-Lest to achieve mutual development and win-win result. China is also willing to continue its support to the infrastructure and livelihood projects in Timor-Leste so as to contribute to the well-being of Timor-Leste people and improve their sense of fulfillment and happiness.
In the end, again I hope this China-aided project a success under our joint effort; I hope the Timoreses a happier and more prosperous life; and I hope the friendship between our two countries long-lasting.
Thank you!