Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Somare, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a great pleasure for me to attend the launching of the new Anti-malaria drug---ARCO. I wish to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to Kunming Pharmaceutical Corp of China, University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and other cooperative partners on this successful event and express my deep appreciation to the Academy of Military Medical Science of China for its outstanding work in the research of ARCO. I also wish to commend Kunming Pharmaceutical Corp of China and Borneo Pacific Pharmaceutical Ltd. of PNG for their successful cooperation in bringing this drug into PNG.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and PNG and Pacific Island countries at large. As a developing country, China not only cares about the health and life of its own people, but also that of PNG and other developing countries of the world. In terms of the exchange and cooperation between China and PNG in this regard, China has dispatched two medical teams with 20 doctors to PNG since 2002, working in Port Moresby General Hospital, and the Chinese Government has donated medicines several times for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. We are now considering setting up a Malaria Prevention and Treatment Center here in Port Moresby to cover the South Pacific Region.

The decease of malaria, a great threat to the health and life of the people, is a major killer in South Pacific Countries including PNG as I leant. This new anti-malaria drug---ARCO, having gone through diligent study and numerous clinical tests by the relevant academic and medical institutions, has been proved be effective. It is my sincere hope that with the support of the governments and peoples of South Pacific Island Countries, ARCO will bring a new and healthy life to those who are suffering or will suffer from malaria.

The Chinese Government encourages and supports its reliable enterprises to step out of their country to make their investment in or bring their products of good quality to other countries. I hope that the mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields between China and South Pacific Island Countries will be strengthened with the concerted efforts of their governments and peoples as well as entrepreneurs.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please allow me to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation and sincere thanks to The Right Honorable Sir Michael Somare, Prime Minister of PNG, for his valuable support to the launching of this new anti-malaria drug. Once again, my congratulations to Kunming Pharmaceutical Corp of China and University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), and wish this event a complete success.

Thank you.