H.E. Mr. Kuntoro, Mangkusubroto, Chairman of BRR,

Distinguished guests and friends, Good morning.

 

On Dec 26^th, 2004, Aceh area in Sumatera Island of Indonesia was seriously damaged by the powerful Earthquake and ensuing Tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Today, on the occasion of the forthcoming 2nd anniversary of the Tsunami, it's my great pleasure to host together with the Indonesian side the Handover Ceremony of 60 sets of Prefabricated Houses donated by the Chinese Government to the Indonesian Government. The project is one of the largest and far-reaching significant assistance implemented by the Chinese Government after the catastrophe caused by the Tsunami, to which the Chinese Government has paid great attention. The completion of the project fully indicates the profound sentiments and friendship of the Chinese Government and people towards the Indonesian Government and people. It has also shown the genuine will of the Chinese Government to actively participate in the disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction work of the affected area.

 

With the total amount of 7.5 million USD, the original design of the project was 60 sets of schools for the students of disaster affected area so that they could return to study as early as possible. Due to the limitation of the site selection and in consideration of the request from Indonesia side, the utilization of the houses has expanded from schools to kindergartens and offices including BRR and campaign Office for Aceh Governor Election. Currently, among the 60 sets of completed houses,  34 are for schools, 17 for Kindergartens and 9 for offices. As far as I know that with the close cooperation and strong support of BRR and local Government, the Executing Agency of the project overcame the difficulties of scattered allocations, inconvenient transportation due to severe damage of infrastructure etc, and took only one year from Dec 12^th, 2005 to Dec 12^th, 2006 to complete all the construction. The good quality and applicability of the houses has been highly commended by Indonesia side. Several sets of houses used for BRR offices even become models among all the assistance of same kind from other countries. I'd like to take this opportunity to express, on behalf of the Chinese Government, our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Indonesian Government, BRR and Aceh Provincial Government for their close cooperation and strong support to the project. I would also like to commend and salute the industrious and devoting working team of China State Construction Engineering Corporation and Indonesian people taking part in the construction.   

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

When the Tsunami disaster happened in 2004, the Chinese Government and people know how much pain it has brought to you and what genuine friendship means in times of tribulations. The Chinese Government has launched its largest foreign relief operations to date. Up to now, the promise of supplying 200 million Yuan assistance by the Chinese Government to the Indonesian Government has been implemented. Apart from the aforesaid 60 sets of prefabricated houses project, the assistance also included 4 batches of emergency goods airlifted and 3 rescue teams dispatched in succession from Dec 30^th, 2004, provision of 10 earthquake and Tsunami early warning systems. Moreover, the Chinese Government also donated school bags through UNICEF and vessel engines through FAO to the students and fisherman of disaster affected area at the amount of 6.1 million USD, as well as cash, ambulances and other goods through WHO. China Charity Federation and China Red Cross have contributed about 12 million USD to construct China-Indonesia Friendship Village with houses, school, kindergarten, clinic, mosque and other facilities in Banda Aceh which is estimated to be completed by June next year. China Red Cross has donated another 3.4 million USD to build 300 sets of houses for disaster victims who lost their homes in Aceh. China Charity Federation donated about USD2.5 million to North Sumatera province and WALUBI. Chinese company in Indonesia were not content to lag behind and also made contribution in the form of cash and goods worth of USD5.3 million. Moreover, when the earthquake struck Nias in 2005, the Chinese Government provided USD500, 000 cash and USD1.5 million emergency goods for disaster relief. In the meantime, the Chinese people, old and young, man and woman, were also very active in donating money and goods. All aforesaid assistance fully demonstrated friendly  sentiments of sharing weal and woe between our two peoples.

 

It is to our great joy to notice that in the past two years after the tsunami, under the leadership of the Indonesian Government and coordination of BRR and local Government, with the help of international community, the post-tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction work of Aceh area has been progressing smoothly, live of the people gradually returned to normal. Here I would like to wish greater progress to be made in rehabilitation and reconstruction work in disaster affected area. Merciless as the tsunami was, we human beings are compassionate and caring.  We'd like to work hand in hand continuously with the Indonesian Government and people in rebuilding the ravaged areas into a more beautiful one.

 

Thank you.