On July 13, the hand-over and commissioning ceremony of the China-aided west coast road post-Erika rehabilitation project took place in the middle section of the west coast road in Dominica. Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and Mrs. Skerrit, Foreign Minister Kenneth Darroux, Public Works Minister Cassani Laville, representatives of diplomatic corps and Chinese Ambassador Lu Kun attended the event. Local people as well as staff of Qingjian Group, contractor of the project, totaling 200, were also present.
Permanent Secretary of the Dominican Public Works Ministry Roland Royer presided over the event. Ambassador Lu and Prime Minister Skerrit delivered a speech respectively.
Ambassador Lu congratulated on the completion, hand-over and commissioning of the west coast road project, saying this project, finished to a standard of excellence, is of great significance to Dominica's economic development and the building of a climate resilient country. He thanked Qingjian Group for completing the project on time, while overcoming the challenges of Hurricane Maria, the Dengue fever and COVID-19 in the process. He also thanked the Dominican government and Prime Minister Skerrit for their support and local people for their cooperation during the construction. Ambassador Lu said the year 2020 is a special year as COVID-19 is sweeping the world, causing economic damage to both China and Dominica. Besides, China is also hit by severe storms and floods. But as China values its relations with Dominica and sees Dominica as a good friend and partner, China will as always help Dominica's economic and social development to the best of its capabilities, and accelerate the construction of China-aided Agricultural Science Complex Building and China-aided post-hurricane Maria schools' reconstruction projects when the pandemic is less severe. He wishes for a long-lasting China-Dominica friendship and the continued development of bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Skerrit expressed his thanks to the Chinese government and people for their support in Dominica's economic development, and to the Chinese embassy and Ambassador Lu for their facilitation in the construction of the project. He said Dominica and China are friends which have gone through the tests of hardships. The Chinese government and people stood firmly with and offered help to Dominica when Dominica was hit by tropical storms Erika, Hurricane Maria and COVID-19. He stressed that the Dominican government will consistently adhere to the one China principle, firmly support China's position on Hong Kong national security law and continue to support China at World Health Assembly and in other international arena.
After the speech, Ambassador Lu and Prime Minister Skerrit signed the hand-over certificate, followed by the unveiling and ribbon cutting ceremony.
GIS and other Dominican mainstream media covered the live event.