At the invitation of Hon. Kuri Kingal, Member for Mul Baiyer Lumusa, Ambassador Li traveled to Baiyer River Lumusa electorate in the Western Highlands Province on 18 July and took part in the inauguaral ceremony of the new Ukini Community School. Mr. Li also took the occasion to donate K10,000 to a sub-health center in the electorate. He was accorded with a grand traditional welcome by the provincial officials and the villagers. According to Mr. Kingal, Ambassador Li's visit is the first ever made by a foreign government envoy since the independence of Papua New Guinea. Following is the speech delivered by Ambassador Li at the inaugural ceremony:


Dear friends,

I am very pleased to be with you today at the inaugural ceremony of this new School. Let me thank the Hon. Kuri Kingal for inviting me to share with you the joy of the completion of this significant school project.

I am deeply touched by the traditional welcome you have extended to me. Since I came I am immersed in the profound friendship of your people. This is not only the friendship shown to myself, but also the friendship extended to the whole Chinese people. Please allow me on behalf of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China and in my own name to express my heartfelt thanks to you, and to extend our cordial greetings to the people of this electorate and Western Highlands Province.

This is my first trip to your Province and the beautiful Mul Baiyer Lumusa region. I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to present to this electorate a check of K10,000 for the upgrading of a community sub-health center and some books and small gifts for the school boys and girls. As we say in Chinese language, it is indeed an occasion of double happiness. With this new school, the children will have a better place to study; and with a future new health center, you will be able to enjoy a better health care.

China is a good friend of PNG. Over the years, the cooperation between our two countries has registered great achievements. Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and PNG in 1976, the Chinese Government has within its ability provided PNG with economic assistance and quite a few technical and development projects. The biggest project China helped to build is the sport stadium in Port Moresby, which is frequently used by the local people. Besides, last year China sent to PNG a medical team of eight specialists, who are all medical experts with rich clinical experience. They are working very hard alongside their PNG colleagues in the Port Moresby General Hospital to provide good health services to the people. This has opened a new channel of cooperation between our two countries. I am also very pleased to tell you that your Governor General Sir Silas Atopare will pay a good-will visit to China at the end of this month. I am sure he will be given the warmest hospitality by the Chinese Government and people.

China is a developing country with 1.3 billion people. Now China is not only able to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter for its huge population, but its economy is developing rapidly. China ranks the first in the world in terms of output of more than 80 products, including steel, coal, cement, fruit and vegetable, etc. For last 13 consecutive years, China's GDP has registered an average annual increase rate of 9%. The GDP of China of last year reached US$ 1.3 billion, which ranks China the sixth in the world economy. The volume of China's total import and export exceeded US$ 600 billion. The size of its foreign exchange reserves now stands at US$ 340 billion.

Now PNG is the biggest trading partner of China among the South Pacific Island nations. The total volume of bilateral trade reached US$ 190 million last year, up 32% from 2001. China has become a big importer of PNG's main export commodities of timber, petroleum, etc. PNG is blessed with abundant natural resources, and is a good place for investment and business. The economies of our two countries are complementary and there exist huge potentials for the future bilateral economic and trade cooperation. I firmly believe that with concerted efforts, the friendship and economic and trade cooperation between our two countries will have a bright prospect.

As the new Chinese Ambassador to PNG, I can assure you that China is an all-weather friend of PNG. We will continue to provide economic and technical assistance. During my tenure of office, I will exert my utmost to help further advance the mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples, and to promote the bilateral cooperation in all fields to a new level.

Having been here in the province only for a couple of hours, I have already experienced the profound concern shown by the Hon. Kuri Kingal for the people in this area. Without his personal effort, our small amount of aid may not have come to the Mul Baiyer Lumusa electorate. So you have every reason to be proud of having someone like Kuri who always puts his people at heart. I'd also like to express my heartfelt thanks to Kuri for his thoughtfulness to put me in direct contact with the grass-roots people and to learn more about the diversity of the culture of Papua New Guinea.

My short visit here has left me with a deep and unforgettable impression. Thank you all for your kind hospitality and welcome again, and I am looking forward to visiting your province again.

Finally, I wish the people in Western Highlands and PNG prosperity and a happy life.

May the friendship between China and PNG last forever!