Brig. Gen. Peter Ilau, Commander for PNG Defence Force,
Mr. Stephen Raphael, Acting Secretary for Defence,  
Specialists from the Chinese People?s Liberation Army,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, it gives me great pleasure to address this auspicious ceremony of completion of the Taurama Military Hospital Upgrading Project. Please allow me to express my sincere congratulations to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and heartfelt thanks to the hard-working technicians and specialists from both sides.

I recall that in May 2001, China agreed to help PNG Defence Force to upgrade Taurama Military Hospital at the cost of RMB 5 million (US$ 600, 000). According to the Agreement reached by the two Defence Ministries, the military logistic goods were composed of assembling houses and medical equipment. In April this year, the above-said goods were shipped to Port Moresby and handed over to the PNG side. After the 10 assembling houses were set up by the Chinese technicians, now we see that all the medical equipment has been installed, which marks the successful completion of the whole project.
For years, our two military forces have maintained a very cordial relationship. The exchanges and cooperation between two sides were consolidated step by step in recent years and particularly highlighted by the visit of General Chi Haotian, the Chinese Defence Minister to PNG in September this year. Gen. Chi held fruitful talks with the PNG leaders and signed with his counterpart Hon. Kappa Yarka another agreement on China?s provision of military assistance gratis worth RMB two million YUAN (US$ 240, 000) to the PNGDF to rehabilitate its sports and recreational facilities. This project is to be phased in the near future.

As you may know, China has also accepted some PNGDF officers to take training courses in outstanding Chinese military academies. We are convinced that our contacts in the field of military cooperation will surely be further strengthened in the years ahead.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the importance China has always attached to the Sino-PNG relations. China is willing to develop a multi-faceted cooperative relationship with PNG on the basis of the Five Principles governing state relations and make further efforts with the PNG side to deepen the friendship already existing between the two nations and peoples.

Thank you very much.

Brig. Gen. Peter Ilau, Commander for PNG Defence Force,
Mr. Stephen Raphael, Acting Secretary for Defence,  
Specialists from the Chinese People?s Liberation Army,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, it gives me great pleasure to address this auspicious ceremony of completion of the Taurama Military Hospital Upgrading Project. Please allow me to express my sincere congratulations to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and heartfelt thanks to the hard-working technicians and specialists from both sides.

I recall that in May 2001, China agreed to help PNG Defence Force to upgrade Taurama Military Hospital at the cost of RMB 5 million (US$ 600, 000). According to the Agreement reached by the two Defence Ministries, the military logistic goods were composed of assembling houses and medical equipment. In April this year, the above-said goods were shipped to Port Moresby and handed over to the PNG side. After the 10 assembling houses were set up by the Chinese technicians, now we see that all the medical equipment has been installed, which marks the successful completion of the whole project.
For years, our two military forces have maintained a very cordial relationship. The exchanges and cooperation between two sides were consolidated step by step in recent years and particularly highlighted by the visit of General Chi Haotian, the Chinese Defence Minister to PNG in September this year. Gen. Chi held fruitful talks with the PNG leaders and signed with his counterpart Hon. Kappa Yarka another agreement on China?s provision of military assistance gratis worth RMB two million YUAN (US$ 240, 000) to the PNGDF to rehabilitate its sports and recreational facilities. This project is to be phased in the near future.

As you may know, China has also accepted some PNGDF officers to take training courses in outstanding Chinese military academies. We are convinced that our contacts in the field of military cooperation will surely be further strengthened in the years ahead.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the importance China has always attached to the Sino-PNG relations. China is willing to develop a multi-faceted cooperative relationship with PNG on the basis of the Five Principles governing state relations and make further efforts with the PNG side to deepen the friendship already existing between the two nations and peoples.

Thank you very much.