Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Yuan Nansheng
at the Hand-over Ceremony of Military Materials
Granted by the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Suriname

(October 6, 2009)

Your Excellency, Mr. Ivan Fernald,
Minister of Defense of the Republic of Suriname,
Your Excellency, Mr. Dennis Kamperveen,
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense,
Your Excellency, Colonel Ernst L. Mercuur,
Commander of the Surinamese Armed Forces,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning! It is with great pleasure to attend the hand-over ceremony of military materials granted by the Ministry of Defense of the People’s Republic of China to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Suriname. It starts a new page in the history of the friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries and two armies.

After more than 150 years of friendship, especially after we established diplomatic relations in 1976, China and Suriname enjoyed a fruitful cooperation in many areas. During recent years, the exchange of military visits increased and contributed to the cooperation on military training and medical affairs. The Chinese Major General Chen Yong, President of Nanjing Army Command College of China, visited Suriname in 2007. His Excellencies, Mr. Ivan Fernald and Colonel Ernst L. Mercuur also paid successful visits to China respectively. The Ministry of Defense of China has invited dozens of Surinamese military officers to attend the seminars or other training programs in China. Besides that, the 5th Chinese military medical group has already completed their mission in Suriname. They will leave for home several hours later.

According to the Agreements of Military Aid Gratis between our two countries, we will hand over the materials to the value of 10,000,000 RMB yuan to the Suriname side today. All of these goods are logistical materials. We sincerely hope that they can provide convenience to the work of the Ministry of Defense and the Surinamese Army as you carry out your missions as safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and protecting the security of Suriname people’s lives and prosperity.

On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I’d like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to the Ministry of Defense and the Surinamese Army, for their strong support and sincere friendship. We are convinced that the bilateral relations between Suriname and China will continue to reach a higher level through our common efforts.

Thanks.