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China hands-over official residence in Ceremony

Palikir, POHNPEI (FSM Information Services): September 22, 2006 - The Government of the People's Republic of China has officially handed over to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia the newly constructed residence for the National Government Leadership.

During the September 13 ceremony, Ambassador Yang Qiang of the Chinese Embassy to the FSM presented to the Foreign Affairs Secretary Sebastian Anefal with the ceremonial keys to the residences constructed for the President, Vice President, Speaker and Chief Justice.

The Residence hand-over ceremony underscores the 17-year diplomatic relationship established between China and the FSM on September 11 1989. A relationship which Ambassador Yang noted has since its establishment "made great progress."

The Ambassador referenced the residences as another "symbol of the China-FSM friendship" and a product of the close cooperation between the two countries. A cooperation that the Ambassador said will witness "the tong lasting development of China-FSM bilateral relations, said the Ambassador.

Secretary Anefal thanked Ambassador Yang and the Embassy for spearheading a new platform of dynamic relationship between FSM and China that has reached "unprecedented heights." As a testament to the strong relationship between the two nations, the Secretary stated, "let these residences be a reminder of the model relationship that characterizes the prevailing relationships between our two countries."

He continued that given their proximity to "each other and the capital grounds may they also be a lasting symbol the unity of the FSM Leadership in the days to come."

Witnesses to the hand-over of the residences included: President Joseph J. Urusemal, Vice President Redley Killion, FSM Chief Justice Andon L. Amaraich and members of the FSM Economic Planning and Implementation Council (EPIC) who were meeting Palikir.

The Residences were built by the Jiangsu Construction and Engineering Company.