On 13th August, 2019, the 15th Anniversary of Chinese Medical Team Serving in Timor-Leste and the Donation Ceremony of Medicine and Medical Appliances 2019 was held in Guido Valadares National Hospital. H.E. Dr. Xiao Jianguo, Ambassador of China to Timor-Leste and H.E. Mr. Bonifácio Maukoli dos Reis, Acting Minister of Health attended the ceremony and delivered remarks. Mr. Geng Xiewei, Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, H.E. Merício Juvinal 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 UN Agencies in Timor-Leste, members of Chinese medical team, representatives from Chinese Enterprises and Timorese media were present.
Ambassador Xiao spoke highly of the Chinese medical team's work in Timor-Leste over the past 15 years, pointed out that the Chinese medical team has played an important role in improving local medical conditions, in promoting medical and health cooperation, bilateral friendly relations between two countries. Ambassador Xiao said that 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, which has won wide acclaim from all walks of life in Timor-Leste. Meanwhile, Chinese government has donated 15 batches of medicines and medical appliances to Timor-Leste, worthy of approximate 1.1 million US dollars, and has cultivated a large number of medical practitioners and professional doctors for Timor-Leste, and promoted the overall level of Timor-Leste medical and health service. Ambassador Xiao said that Timorese Government has always attached great importance to ensuring people's livelihood and put health a prior area of development. The Chinese side has always regarded health care as a prioritized area for the cooperation between our two countries. It is hoped that our two sides will strengthen cooperation in this field in the future and jointly promote the development of the Timor-Leste and friendship between two countries.
On behalf of the government of Timor-Leste, Mr. Bonifácio Maukoli dos Reis thanked the Chinese side for assisting and supporting Timor-Leste in health field. He said that medical cooperation between Timor-Leste and China enjoys a good foundation. The Chinese medical team has high medical ethics and exquisite medical skills. Medicines and medical appliances donated by China are playing an increasingly important role in Timor-Leste. The assistance is of great significance for improving the Timor-Leste's health level and the Timorese's lives. He emphasized that the medical and health field is an important direction for bilateral cooperation between our two countries, and hoped that China will continue to assist and support Timor-Leste in relevant areas and that the bilateral cooperation between our two countries will be further deepened.
Ambassador Xiao and Mr. Bonifácio Maukoli dos Reis then jointly witnessed the donation ceremony of medicine and medical appliances.
After the event, Ambassador Xiao was interviewed from the Timorese media.