H.E. Vice-Minister of State Administration, Mr. Abílio José Caetano

H.E. Advisor to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. José Turquel,

H.E. Founder of Centre Quesadhip Ruak, Madame Isabel da Ferreira,

Dear fellow compatriots, friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening!

Today, we are gathering here to celebrate the coming Chinese Spring Festival, the most important Chinese traditional festival to welcome the arrival of the Lunar Year of the Pig, which will fall on 5th Feburary, 2019. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Timor-Leste, I would like to present my most sincere greeting to all the guests and representatives of overseas Chinese, Chinese enterprises in Timor-Leste and Chinese Medical Team. Wish you a happy Chinese New Year and all the best! Special thanks shall go to H.E. Vice-Minister of State Administration, Mr. Abílio José Caetano, Advisor to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. José Turquel, and to Her Excellency Founder of Centre Quesadhip Ruak, Madame Isabel da Ferreira, your presence graces the reception tonight, which illustrates Timor-Leste Government's recognition of the contribution and role of oversea Chinese here.

Dear compatriots and friends,

In the past year of 2018, the shift in the balance of power accelerated, unilateralism and protectionism further developed, the existing international system is coming under serious strain, and the competition among major powers is becoming intensified. But given the context of the more and more turbulent international situation, what really makes us proud is that with the hard striving of Chinese people, China's national strength has gradually increased, its economic development improved constantly with a steady growth of 6.6% this year.

In the year 2018, China celebrated the 40th anniversary of Reform and Opening-up, successfully held the first China International Import Expo. It is continuously deepening the Reform, expanding the Opening-up, adhering to win-win cooperation, with a goal to share development opportunities and to achieve common prosperity with peoples all over the world.

In the year 2018, the Chang'e 4 Lunar Lander successfully landed on the dark side of the moon, the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System was formally launched and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge was officially inaugurated. China's innovation achievements have attracted worldwide attention.

In the year 2018, at the commemorative meeting marking the 40th anniversary of the publication of A Message to Compatriots in Taiwan, President Xi Jinping reiterated "One China, Two System" policy and peaceful reunification, and proposed an initiative to carry out Cross-Strait democratic consultations, setting a new tone for the development of Cross-Strait relations in new era.

In the year 2018, China promoted the Major-Country Diplomacy with Distinctive Chinese Features. We hosted a number of events like the Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia, the Qingdao Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, put forward China's proposition, issued China's voice and enhanced China's influence.

Dear compatriots, friends,

The year of 2018 also witnessed new development of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Timor-Leste of good-neighborliness, mutual trust and mutual benefit. The high-level exchanges continued, our pragmatic cooperations were fruitful and the cultural exchanges were much closer. China is the second largest trading partner of Timor-Leste. More and more Chinese companies have invested and operated here, getting involved in many fields like infrastructure, agriculture and trade. The Suai Highway (Phase I) Project, the first highway in Timor-Leste, built by Chinese enterprise, was officially launched, the Tibar Bay Port Project broke the ground, the China-aided projects of Grain Depot and DTMB Digital TV have been steadily advanced, the Timorese students attending in vocational training courses have just graduated after their one-year study in China.

At this moment of happy reunion, we invited two groups of special guests. One group is Chinese Medical Team. From January 2004, there have been 7 batches of Chinese Medical Team coming to Timor-Leste, providing medical treatment for about 300,000 Timorese patients. Now, the 7th batch of Medical Team is about to finish their two-year mission in Timor-Leste and I would like to wish them a pleasant journey back. And the other group are student representatives of the vocational training courses who have just returned from China. Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Taur Matan Ruak and Madame Isabel were both active supporters to this program and Madame personally visited China to attend the Closing Ceremony last December. I believe that this experience of studying in China will surely change theses young people's life, and I also hope these students will become messengers of friendship between our two countries in the future.

Dear compatriots and friends,

The year 2019 is the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, a year in which the "Belt and Road" construction will continue to grow in depth and substance, and also a crucial year to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and to realize the first centenary goal of China. During the past 70 years, the Chinese miracle has attracted worldwide attention and its key lies in the strong leadership of the Chinese Communist Party as well as the unremitting hard-working of the Chinese people. At present, Timor-Leste is also bent on its national development, economic diversification and improving people's livelihood. 2019 is an important year for Timor-Leste to push forward its national strategic development plan, it's also a year for 20th anniversary of UNTAET. All these provide vast opportunity for the entrepreneurs.

We hope that all the overseas Chinese and Chinese enterprises in Timor-Leste could continue to carry forward the love and passion to the native country as well as to Timor-Leste, to actively develop business, to respect and abide by the local laws and fulfill social responsibility here, to make new contributions to Timor-Leste's national development, and to the cause of friendship between China and Timor-Leste. Based on "People-Centered" idea, the Chinese Embassy will, as always, exert itself to serve you well, by stepping up consular protection and making consular services more accessible.

In the year of 2019, also the year of the pig, let's roll up our sleeves and work hard together for a better life for our two peoples and a brighter future of China-Timor-Leste relations. Let's sincerely wish our motherland and Timor-Leste prosperity. Wish all our fellow compatriots and friends here in Timor-Leste a successful career, good luck, health and happiness.

Thank you all!