An implementation agreement for the construction project of the military hospital, an infrastructure project financed by the Chinese Government under bilateral co-operation, was signed last week at the headquarters of the FALINTIL-Timor-Leste Defence Forces (F-FDTL) in Dili.

The document was signed by Timor-Leste’s Minister of Defence, Rear Admiral Donaciano Gomes, and Zhao Suocheng, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of China.

Donaciano Gomes said that the signing represented an important milestone in advancing the project, noting that the construction is supported by financing of 162 million yuan. The Minister stressed that this is a significant investment by the Chinese Government, demonstrating solidarity and friendship towards the Timorese people.

For his part, Zhao Suocheng said that the signing of the implementation agreement constituted a decisive step towards implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. He said that the project has now entered the implementation phase, adding that technical personnel had already completed preliminary work and would develop the detailed project before the launch of the tender to select the company responsible for construction.

(Source: Tatoli, 2 July)