Chinese Government provides RMB 92.2 million via March 2017 ETCA for Pohnpei Secondary Road Project

Project narrative

On March 27, 2017, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and Government of Micronesia signed an economic and technical cooperation agreement (ETCA), which committed RMB 92,229,500 of grant funding for unspecified projects. Then, on January 15, 2018 and January 30, 2018, the two sides signed an exchange of letters, allocating all of the grant funds to the Secondary Road Project in Pohnpei State. The purpose of this project was to reconstruct six existing roads equal to 8,708 meters in Madolenihmw within Pohnpei State: Lukop, Metipw, Dolopwail, Kepine, Areu Pah, and Areu Powe. China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co., Ltd. was the contractor responsible for project implementation. A consortium consisting of CCCC Highway Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd. and Beijing CCCC Highway and Bridge Engineering Supervision Co., Ltd. was responsible for project management. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 26, 2019 and the project was originally expected to reach completion within 18 months (December 26, 2020). The project was ultimately completed and handed over to the local authorities on September 7, 2021. David W. Panuelo, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, attended the completion ceremony in Madolenihmw Municipality and described the Pohnpei Secondary Road Project as the latest example of how 32 years of the FSM-China Great Friendship had resulted in tangible and visible benefits for FSM citizens. Going President Panuelo were Huang Zheng, CHina’s ambassador to the FSM; Esmond B. Moses, vice speaker of the 22nd FSM Congress; Reed B. Oliver, governor of Pohnpei State; Stevick Edwin, speaker of 10th Pohnpei State Legislature; and John A. Adolph, traditional leader or Iso Nahnken of Madolenihmw.