Your Excellency Dr. Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation,
Mr. José Ramos-Horta, Former President，
Mr. Filomeno da Paixao de Jesus，Minister of Defense，
Mr. Salvador Soares dos Reis Pires，Minister of Public Works，
Excellencies from Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished guests,
Dear friends,
Ladies and gentlemen:
Good evening!
Thank you very much for attending my reception. My special thanks should go to H.E. Dr. Dionísio Babo Soares for his presence as the guest of honor tonight. Please allow me to extend my warm welcome on behalf of the Chinese Embassy to all present here!
On October 20th, I set foot on this beautiful island for the first time. On the 15th of last month, I presented the Letter of Credence to H.E. President Lu Olo. Shortly after I arrived in Timor-Leste, I have made a lot of friends here from all walks of life, including Government, National Parliament, Diplomatic Missions, business sectors and Chinese community here. The warm and friendly welcome from these friends makes me feel at home.
Timor-Leste enjoys a beautiful scenery with rising mountains and blue seas, and has a rich endowment of natural resources. People here are honest, simple, warm and friendly. In particular I am much impressed by and also admire the perseverance of Timorese people striving for their national independence and country’s development. This great asset will surely benefit the country’s future. Nowadays, Timor-Leste is devoted to make progress in national development and economic diversification. At this moment, I assume the office as the 7th Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste. I feel confident for the future of Timor-Leste, as well as the future of the China-Timor-Leste relations. In the meantime, I’m also keenly aware of the great responsibility upon my shoulders.
Ladies and gentlemen,
China and Timor-Leste are neighbors just across the sea and enjoy a friendly relationship. Chinese people came to Timor-Leste to do business no later than the 14th century. Timor-Leste was one of the links of ancient Chinese Maritime Silk Road. In the course of modern history, China has always been supporting the national liberation of Timor-Leste and was among the first to recognize its independence and establish diplomatic ties. After Timor-Leste’s restoration of independence in the new century, China has attached great importance to the relations with Timor-Leste, conducted active and win-win cooperation, offered assistance and aid to the best of its ability. Meanwhile, the successive governments of Timor-Leste have adopted a friendly policy towards China, adhered to the one-China principle and rendered support to China’s core concerns. It can be said that, since the establishment of diplomatic ties 16 years ago, political mutual trust between China and Timor-Leste has been continuously enhanced, and practical cooperation of mutual benefit in various fields has been comprehensively advanced. China-Timor-Leste relations have maintained good momentum.
China and Timor-Leste have always been treating each other as good neighbors, good friends, and good partners. China insists that all countries are equal regardless of size, irrelevant to the economic developing level, and respects fully the right for Timorese to choose its national independence and development paths. In 2014, the two countries established comprehensive partnership of good-neighbourly friendship, mutual trust and mutual benefit. China is willing to make the bilateral relations a model for equal treatment, mutual benefit and common development in international relations.
China and Timor-Leste enjoy close economic and trade cooperation. China has become Timor-Leste’s second largest trading partner for many years. The two sides signed a MOU on the Belt and Road cooperation to strengthen strategic synergy. More and more Chinese companies are coming to do business in Timor-Leste, involved in various fields like infrastructure, agriculture, commerce, etc. Recently, the inauguration of Suai Highway undertaken by a Chinese enterprise has become one of the latest achievements of the Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries.
The people-to-people exchanges between China and Timor-Leste are expanding. China continuously carries out medical cooperation with Timor-Leste and has sent seven batches of medical teams in the past 15 years to offer medical service to the Timorese people. At the end of 2017, Chinese hospital ship Peace Ark visited Timor-Leste and offered more than 7000 free treatments. China also provides government scholarships and human resource training courses to Timor-Leste. More than 100 Timorese students have obtained degrees in China, and more than 2,000 government officials and technicians have received various courses from China. China also keeps providing Timor-Leste with assistance for people's livelihood such as vehicle, agricultural machinery and mosquito nets. The friendship between the two peoples has lasted for a long time, and now it begins to thrive with new dynamism.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening -up, and the 5th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. China will not stop its effort to pursue reform and opening-up. With the principles of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, China will promote substantive, results-oriented and high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road framework. China is also willing to cooperate with other countries to deliver greater benefits to the Timorese people. Last month, the first China International Import Expo was successfully held in Shanghai, attracting 172 countries, regions and international organizations, with more than 3600 companies participated. We are glad that Timor-Leste sent its delegation and set up its own pavilion at the Expo. This shows that China's unswerving determination to support free trade and open up to the world. At present, the multilateral trading system is undermined by unilateralism and protectionism, We should firmly uphold free trade and the rules-based multilateral trading system. China supports necessary reform of the World Trade Organization, and believes that it is critical to uphold the WTO’s core values and fundamental principles such as openness, inclusiveness and non-discrimination，reach a consensus through consultation and ensure the development interests and policy space of developing countries. Timor-Leste is now seeking to join the WTO, which we think is conducive to the multilateral trade system. In the future, with its wider opening-up, China will provide broader cooperation opportunities for all countries in the world, including Timor-Leste.
China’s relationship with Timor-Leste is now facing a new historical opportunity. As the new Ambassador to Timor-Leste, I’m not only committed to strengthening the bilateral ties, but also have every confidence in China-Timor-Leste relations for now and future. I’m willing and I hope, together with Timor-Leste, to push forward our comprehensive partnership to a new level, so as to bring benefits to the two countries and their peoples.
Now, may I propose a toast,
To the prosperity of our two countries,
To the long-lasting friendship of our two countries,
And to the good health of everyone present tonight.
Thank you.