Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang have vowed to support Timor-Leste´s development, with their timorese counterparts hailing relations with Beijing.
In a 20 May message to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Timor-Leste’s independence and the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Xi (pictured above, right, with former counterpart Xanana Gsmão) stressed that the Timorese have actively developed their economy and improved people’s lives, showing great vitality.
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 20 years ago, the two sides have steadily deepened political mutual trust, achieved solid progress in practical cooperation, showing solid and steady momentum in bilateral relations, Xi said.
Xi Jinping ready to work with Timor-Leste counterpart to take relations to a “new level”
Stressing that he attaches great importance to the development of relations with Timor-Leste, the Chinese president said he was ready to work with President José Ramos-Horta to constantly bring their comprehensive cooperation partnership with mutual trust and mutual benefit to a new level.
In his message, Ramos-Horta said that Timor-Leste appreciates China’s fundamental role in promoting regional and world peace and stability, as well as its strong support for the national development process of his country, stating that Timor-Leste will firmly support China in strengthening friendship and bilateral cooperation.
On the same day, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang exchanged congratulatory messages with Timor’s Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak.
ASEAN membership “an absolute priority” for Timor-Leste, new President says
Li said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 20 years ago, bilateral relations have been developing smoothly with steady progress in exchanges and cooperation in various fields.
He added that China will continue to support Timorese development promoting deeper and more concrete bilateral relations.
Ruak noted that Timor-Leste and China share a long-standing fraternal friendship and fruitful bilateral cooperation. He added that he hopes to further strengthen cooperation between the two sides to jointly face the challenges of post-pandemic recovery.
