Address of Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, H.E.Mr.Yuan Nansheng on the Ceremony for Completion Binder Layer Afobakka Road and Start Paving Berg en Dal-Atjoni

(November 23, 2009)

H.E.President R.R. Venetiaan, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Road Project outside Paramaribo greets a harvest moment today for completion binder layer of the Afobakka road! On behalf of the government of the People's Republic of China, I would like to congratulate all of you for the completion binder layer of Afobakka road and begin to pave Berg en Dal-Atjoni.

I really appreciate the relevant departments of the Surinamese government and friends from all sectors of Suriname, who pay great concern and support to this project, and the team of the Dalian Company as well. They contribute so much.

As we know, construction of infrastructure facilities is the premise and key factor for the development of economy. The Road Project in and outside Paramaribo covers 500 km with a total investment of 215 million US dollars and the majority is provided by the Import and Export Bank of China, including buyer's credit and concessional loan from the Chinese Government. We firmly believe that the project will benefit the Surinamese people a lot after accomplished.

The 500 km road project has great significance of political, economic and social development. It symbolizes new achievement and new link of friendship and cooperation between the two sides.

The Afobakka road extends up to 72.355 km and comes to be the main way in Surinamese interior area. It suffered severe problems of dust, mud and bump for long. This changed on and after August 1,2008 when the paving started. The Dalian Company has got success on this phase by conquering difficulties with their solidarity and support of government departments and people from both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Suriname.

It is now beginning to start paving Berg en Dal-Atjoni, which leads more than 90 km. The future-furnished new way would provide great convenience to the eco-tourism and transportation industry of Suriname and actively accelerate the economic development in the area alongside. It will also enhance the communication between the hinterland and the capital and benefit people living along the road. Hopefully the Dalian Company will make persistent efforts to finish the project as scheduled to our mutual satisfaction.

The Chinese government always attaches great attention to the development of the economic and trade cooperation with the Surinamese government on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win. I deeply believe, with the efforts of the Chinese side and the Surinamese side, the relationship of the economic and trade cooperation between our two countries will develop to a higher level and the people of our two countries will benefit more and more from it.

Thank you!