DILI, 02 July 2026 (TATOLI) – Defence Minister Donaciano do Rosário Gomes on Thursday signed an implementation agreement with the Chinese government for the construction of the Timor-Leste–China Friendship Hospital, formally concluding negotiations and paving the way for the project to begin.
The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Defence in Dili and finalises technical and administrative arrangements required for the implementation of the project, which is being funded through a Chinese government donation valued at approximately US$20 million under bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The signing allows the project management entity to proceed with procurement procedures ahead of construction.
The hospital will be built next to the Ministry of Defence and the FALINTIL–Timor-Leste Defence Forces (F-FDTL) headquarters in Dili.
The project includes a general hospital with a capacity of 100 beds, covering approximately 10,500 square metres, featuring an eight-storey main building and support structures, equipped with modern medical technology and designed to provide outpatient care, emergency services, inpatient care, diagnostic imaging, clinical laboratory services, and intensive care.
This strategic project aims to strengthen the operational capacity of the F-FDTL, complement the services provided by the National Health Service, improve responses to emergencies, disasters, and humanitarian crises, promote training and development in military medicine, reduce dependence on treatment abroad, and benefit the civilian population, thereby contributing to the strengthening of national capacity in the health sector and to the country’s economic development
In addition, the hospital will strengthen national healthcare capacity for members of the F-FDTL, their families, veterans and combatants, as well as personnel of the National Police of Timor-Leste and their families. It may also provide services to the general public, depending on its operational mandate and capacity.
During the meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, the Chinese technical mission responsible for the project’s preparatory work outlined the key features of the hospital.
It is recalled that last year, the governments of China and Timor-Leste, represented by Chinese Ambassador Wang Wenli and Minister Donaciano, signed an agreement for the construction of a military hospital in the country.
TATOLI
