Sir Peter Barter, Honorable Minister for Health,

Honorable Members of National Parliament, Honorable Ministers and Secretaries,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good afternoon! In accordance with the Bilateral Agreement between the Governments of China and PNG dated January 5th, 2005, we are gathered here at the Department of Health this afternoon for the hand-over ceremony of the HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment medicines and reagents. I feel greatly pleased and honored to hand over, on behalf of the Government of the People's Republic of China, these medicines and reagents to Sir Peter Barter, Hon Minister for Health and the representative of the Government of Papua New Guinea.

HIV/AIDS is not only a great threat to the health and life of the people in PNG, but also the common enemy of the humankind. People around the world are becoming increasingly aware of the danger it brings to the humankind. The international community has been exerting great efforts to fight against this deadly disease since it has become a major development issue in the world, particularly in the developing countries. The Chinese government attaches great importance to this issue and to the mutually beneficial cooperation between our two counties.

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. In terms of the exchange and cooperation between China and PNG in this regard, the Chinese Government, taking into consideration of the needs and the requirements of the Government and people of PNG, has been donating certain amount of medicines yearly since 2002. China has also dispatched two Medical Teams with 20 doctors to PNG, working in Port Moresby General Hospital to provide medical services to the local community. The third Chinese Medical Team for 2007-2008 will be dispatched by the Chinese Government later this year. We are now also considering setting up a Malaria Prevention and Treatment Center here in Port Moresby to cover the South Pacific Region.

It is my belief that HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment medicines and regents handed over to the PNG Government today can meet the needs of the patients and will be of great help to the people of PNG, who are suffering and will suffer from HIV/AIDS.

Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between our two countries, China has done its best to support and assist PNG in its economic and social development with the implementation of a dozen of projects. We will continue to do so as in the past for the benefits of the PNG people. China is now fostering the mutually beneficial cooperation with PNG in various fields, and working earnestly on the follow-ups of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development & Cooperation Forum, which was held in Fiji in early April. Several projects are now being implemented. For example, the Ramu Nickel Project is going to commence later this year, the Project of Students' Dormitory and Teachers' Houses at Vudal University and the Project of Mathematics and Computer Science Building at Unitech are well underway, the Project of the Renovation of the Government House is at the stage of preparatory work, the implementation of the Project of the Lae Fishery Processing Factory and Cold Storages is scheduled next month. Meanwhile, a couple of expert teams will be dispatched by the Chinese Government to carry out the feasibility study for the International Convention Center Project, the Ramu Nickel Mine Road Project and so on in the near future.

To conclude, I wish to express my deep appreciation and sincere gratitude to the Department of National Planning and Monitoring, in particular Mr. Kambori, the Department of Health, in particular Dr. Mann, and other relevant departments and friends for your great efforts in making this hand-over ceremony possible and a great success. Thank you all for your continuous support to China's foreign aid work as well as your support and assistance to the Chinese Embassy. Let us work together for the better wellbeing of our two peoples and for the prosperity of our two countries.

Thank you.