Dili, 12 October 2018.

H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Japan, Mr. Taro Kono and spouse

H.E. the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Salvador Soares dos Reis Pires

Ladies and Gentlemen Members of the VIII Constitutional Government

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is with great joy and satisfaction that today we celebrate the inauguration of the Hinode-Bashi Bridge, an important infrastructure that will strengthen the national road network, facilitating the flow of urban and inter-municipal traffic on the road by transporting people, and commercial goods, which passing daily to and fro from our capital city of Dili.

As everyone surely knows, the Eighth Constitutional Government, defined as a priority in the development of its program to continue investing in essential basic infrastructure, whose investments in the coming years will absorb most of our available resources from the State Budget.

We are very proud to continue to count on the support of the People of Japan, represented by His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Japan, Mr. Taro Kono, who greatly honours us with his presence. This joint-effort is to improve the basic conditions which are necessary to the welfare of our citizens and the proper development of economics activities of our country.

It is an honour to note the continued investment commitment of the Japanese Government in ” building our State of Democratic Right “, not only in the construction of bridges, roads, seaports, schools, health facilities, water supply, irrigation or sanitation services, but also in the different programs to support the diversification of our economy, our institutional development or the skilled training and capacitation of our human resources, provided by the JICA cooperation agency, by the Japanese Government and hundreds of technicians or volunteers who have helped us over the years. For instance, in the development of our agriculture, education, justice, disaster management and natural calamities.

Japan has been a source of inspiration and encouragement for us to establish a modern, prosperous, sustainable, environmentally friendly, tolerant and peaceful society, and we hope for the expansion and deepening of our cooperation, which has contributed to the achievement of the goals defined in our strategic national development plan namely, transforming Timor-Leste from the list of “low-income country, into a prosperous society with medium-high incomes country, rich, strong and safe for all.

It is our strong desire to continue to strengthen these historical bonds of ” fraternal friendship ” that unite our Peoples of the ” Rising Sun “, with the hope that the relations established between our governments, organizations and citizens, over the last few years of restoration of independence will multiply with new and fruitful opportunities and exchanges of visitors, students, entrepreneurs and investors.

Your Excellencies

Ladies and gentlemen

Distinguished guests

This inauguration is a major milestone in the development of our road infrastructure, which will greatly benefit local people and economic agents and operators.

We are therefore, would like to extend our congratulatory wishes to the workers, technicians, public servants, engineers and co-operators, at the service of the companies that built the infrastructure, or simply supported the various services of the Ministry of Public Works of Timor-Leste.

On behalf of the Government and the Timorese People, especially the travelers, entrepreneurs and citizens, users of this bridge, I would like to present to all those who participated or contributed to the accomplishment of this work my sincere thanks, saluting your work, effort and dedication both individual as well as collective.

With this and other major works, we are building Timor-Leste that we all dream of for the future!

Thank you all

God bless us