The China-aided project Digital Terrestrial Television Transmission System (DTMB) on Friday was officially installed in Timor-Leste, providing free TV programs for local residents in the Southeast Asian country.

(Photo povided to the People's Daily)

Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste Xiao Jianguo and Timorese Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Social Communication Francisco Martins da Costa Pereira Jerónimo attended the installation ceremony. Both sides agreed to continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the future.

Since the launch of DTMB two years ago, the project has received great attention and strong support in Timor-Leste. The project proceeded on track as Chinese contractors, in close cooperation with local departments, overcame the difficulties and challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the flood disaster.

Twenty-two digital channels are available, including TV programs of the Chinese mainland and Macao with a high-quality experience guaranteed for the audience. All TV programs are aired free of charge with the aim to enrich local residents’ pastime activities.

The Southeast Asian country has organized and completed the information collection, distribution and installation of set-top boxes in four cities, covering more than 30,000 families and benefiting nearly 190,000 people.

The DTMB project is a major achievement of China and Timor-Leste’s joint efforts under the Belt and Road initiative. The project has introduced state of the art technologies of the digital TV industry into the Southeast Asian country and boosted the development of local media.