At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Dr. José Ramos-Horta, the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, paid a state visit to China from July 28-31.
It was Ramos-Horta’s first visit to China since he took office in 2022, but he has visited China many times in the past, the first occasion being in early 1976, as part of a delegation from the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN). With the collapse of Portuguese colonialism, Timor-Leste had declared its independence on November 28, 1975. However, Indonesia invaded and occupied the newly independent country just nine days later. Ramos-Horta had left the country three days before the invasion to present its case to the United Nations and remained in exile for 24 years, leading the work to gain international support and solidarity for Timor’s liberation struggle, which finally triumphed over overwhelming odds.
In a July 2006 article, the right-wing US thinktank Jamestown noted:
“When the Frente Revolucionária de Timor-Leste Independente (FRETILIN) Party declared outright independence from Portugal in November 1975, the PRC [People’s Republic of China] supported the declaration… Following Indonesia’s annexation of East Timor, the PRC acted as FRETILIN’s primary patron. China argued East Timor’s case at the UN, provided financial support to its government in exile in Mozambique and was prepared to furnish anti-Indonesian guerilla fighters with sufficient military equipment to arm a light division of approximately 8,000 troops… At the stroke of midnight on May 20, 2002, East Timor became fully independent after three years under UN tutelage. The PRC became the first country to formally establish diplomatic relations with the world’s newest country.”
Meeting his Timorese counterpart on July 29, Xi Jinping said that President Ramos-Horta is the founding father of Timor-Leste and the founder of China-Timor-Leste friendship. China and Timor-Leste enjoy a long-standing traditional friendship, with China being the first country to recognise Timor-Leste’s independence and establish diplomatic ties with Timor-Leste.
He added that China firmly supports Timor-Leste’s efforts to safeguard national unity and social stability and stands ready to deepen strategic coordination and cooperation with Timor-Leste in an all-round way, safeguard the sovereignty and security interests of the two countries, and move toward the general direction of building a community with a shared future. He also called on both countries to take the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan as an opportunity to synergise their development strategies, share experience and technology in water conservancy construction, water-saving irrigation, disaster prevention and reduction, implement agricultural cooperation such as in rice cultivation, advance cooperation in terms of fisheries and poverty reduction, and help Timor-Leste develop its economy independently and in diversified ways, and continued:
“We should jointly promote the development of the Global South, carry out multilateral cooperation at a higher level, carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, strengthen coordination and cooperation in the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and other multilateral platforms, jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and an economic globalisation that benefits all, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.”
Ramos-Horta said that he has visited China many times since 1976 and witnessed with his own eyes the earth-shaking changes that have taken place in China. He added that under the leadership of President Xi, China has eliminated absolute poverty, which is a miracle of humanity.
He added that in the face of profound changes in the international situation, China has firmly upheld multilateralism, and proposed the Belt and Road Initiative and a series of other important global initiatives. China has also facilitated reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as among Palestinian factions, making significant contributions to regional and global peace and development, thereby demonstrating China’s role and influence as a peaceful and responsible major country in today’s world.
He also thanked China for its long-term valuable support for Timor-Leste’s economic and social development and his country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that Timor-Leste hopes to further consolidate and develop the comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and strengthen cooperation in food security, infrastructure construction and other fields.
Timor-Leste firmly adheres to the one-China principle, believes that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, opposes “Taiwan independence” and interference by external forces, and supports all efforts by China to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan and multiple bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of agriculture, green development, digital economy and air transport. They also issued a joint statement on strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership.
The previous day, Ramos-Horta had met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Li said that that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 22 years ago, no matter how the international landscape has evolved, China and Timor-Leste have always understood and supported each other, deepened political mutual trust and achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation. China is willing to work with Timor-Leste to further carry forward their traditional friendship, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve more results to better benefit the two peoples.
Ramos-Horta also met with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on July 29.
In their joint statement, both nations shared the view that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Timor-Leste 22 years ago, the two countries have acted with mutual respect and treated each other as equals, with the friendship continuing to deepen, and set a fine example of unity and cooperation between countries of different sizes.
Timor-Leste extended warm congratulations on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the great success of convening the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Timor-Leste commends the impressive achievements China made in the First Decade of the New Era and believes that Chinese modernisation presents a new paradigm, which broadens paths and options for developing countries to achieve modernisation. Timor-Leste trusts that the Communist Party of China will lead all Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realise the Second Centenary Goal of building a great modern socialist country in all aspects, and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernisation.
The two nations will further their development strategies by deepening cooperation in four key areas: industry revitalisation, infrastructure development, food security, and livelihood improvement. The Chinese side stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Timor-Leste in such areas as trade and investment, agriculture and fishery, health, water conservancy, energy, education and poverty reduction, expand cooperation on tourism, digital economy, and green development and help Timor-Leste to achieve independent and sustainable development.
China supports Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN (the Association of South East Asian Nations), welcomes Timor-Leste to play a larger role in regional cooperation, and will render help within the scope of its capacity to Timor-Leste in capacity building and other aspects. China will share more development opportunities and benefits with Timor-Leste through the platforms of China-ASEAN cooperation and East Asia cooperation. The two sides will jointly uphold regional peace, development and prosperity, and [in a clear rebuke to US strategy] oppose cobbling together any exclusive groupings in the region.
During the state visit, China Radio International (CRI), broadcast an interview with Ramos-Horta that it had recorded in June and which covered a great many issues, including Taiwan, the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, US sanctions policy, the Middle East, Iran and Ukraine among others.
His views on Taiwan are adamant: “Long before, we already supported the one-China policy. Even when we were very poor in 2002, Taiwan was approaching us with incentives to start relations. I personally told the Taiwanese elements who came to Timor-Leste before independence in 2000, I told them, I want to be honest with you. We, Timor-Leste, we don’t play the chequebook diplomacy.”
He adds: “Taiwan is part of China forever. Even the Kuomintang, when they lost the Civil War and fled to Taiwan, they didn’t say Taiwan is independent. They said, ‘We, Kuomintang, we are the government of all of China. But for the time being, based in Taipei.’”
He recalls his first visit to China in the winter of early 1976, noting that Premier Zhou Enlai had died but that Chairman Mao was still alive. He describes China’s transformation over the ensuing years as dizzying and amazing and as a tribute to the ingenuity, innovation, capability, and creativity of the hard-working Chinese people.
He says that he has a tremendous understanding of China – how the Chinese people suffered in the past from poverty, from abuse, humiliation, and wars, including the opium wars launched by the British. “And that’s one reason that motivates the leadership in China. Let’s develop, let’s modernise, so no one invades us again, no one humiliates us again, no one abuses us again.”
On US sanctions policy, he says: “I personally do not agree at all with US economic sanctions. And it is because of the US economic sanctions, unilateral sanctions, that many countries are looking at divesting from the dollar. That’s why BRICS is emerging because if you hold too many US dollars, if you have too many investments in US banks, you are subject to sudden sanctions and that is very detrimental for many countries.”
Turning to the situation in the Middle East, and the question of terrorism, his views are equally forthright:
“For instance, if some extremist individual or group in the Middle East or in Europe blows up a bus, a car, killing five people, ten people, one person, that’s terrorism. But when a state carpet bombs an entire territory like Gaza, destroys hospitals, universities, killing more than 30,000 people, of which 70 percent are women and children, I wonder, how do we call that?… When someone knifes someone else in the streets of London, that’s terrorism. How about when an organised power with an air force carpet bombs a whole country? How do we call that?”
Ramos-Horta also gave an interview to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, which reported:
“As the leader of Asia’s youngest nation, Ramos-Horta said his priority for cooperation with China would be development sectors like health, education and agriculture to help tackle the extreme poverty, malnutrition, water and sanitation issues in East Timor.
“’If China is to deliver to us in five years free of extreme poverty, free of child malnutrition, stunting, and resolve the challenges of fresh clean water sanitation, I will be eternally, eternally grateful because I don’t care about the big power rivalries – I care about the simple people,’ he said.
“’If China can help our simple people, then China is my hero.’”
Following his visit to China, Ramos-Horta also paid a state visit to Vietnam from July 31-August 3.
Vietnamese President To Lam held talks with Ramos-Horta in Hanoi on August 1, where the Timor-Leste head of state expressed his admiration for the revolutionary careers of the Vietnamese leaders, as well as for the country’s achievements in national construction, describing Vietnam as a model of development. He affirmed that Timor-Leste attaches great importance to and hopes to further bolster the sound friendship with Vietnam. He also took the occasion to once again express his deep condolences over the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
On the same day, the two presidents also toured the Ho Chi Minh Museum. President Ramos-Horta expressed his profound admiration for President Ho Chi Minh’s illustrious career and Vietnam’s revolutionary struggle for national independence.
The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. We also embed the recording of President Ramos-Horta’s interview with CRI.
Xi holds talks with Timor-Leste president, urges promoting bilateral ties
BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta here on Monday.
Noting that the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee was held successfully two weeks ago, Xi said China will further comprehensively deepen reform and promote high-quality development and high-level opening up, which will provide new impetus and new opportunities for global economic development and cooperation between China and Timor-Leste.
China is ready to work with Timor-Leste to take the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level and bring more benefits to the two peoples, he said.
Noting that President Ramos-Horta is the founding father of Timor-Leste and the founder of China-Timor-Leste friendship, Xi said Ramos-Horta’s visit is the first state visit by a Timor-Leste president to China, which is of great historical significance.
China and Timor-Leste enjoy a long-standing traditional friendship, with China being the first country to recognize Timor-Leste’s independence and establish diplomatic ties with Timor-Leste, Xi said.
He noted that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have always treated each other with sincerity and helped each other, setting an example of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and common development for countries with different political systems, development levels, histories and cultures. He added that China is ready to work with Timor-Leste to lead the long-term and stable development of bilateral relations.
“First, we need to firmly support each other and build a higher-level bilateral relationship,” Xi said, adding that China firmly supports Timor-Leste’s efforts to safeguard national unity and social stability, and stands ready to deepen strategic coordination and cooperation with Timor-Leste in an all-round way, safeguard the sovereignty and security interests of the two countries, and move toward the general direction of building a community with a shared future.
“Second, we need to pursue mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation of higher quality,” Xi said, calling on the two countries to focus on cooperation in the four key areas of industrial revitalization, infrastructure development, grain self-sufficiency and improvement of people’s livelihood. Xi also called on both countries to take the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan as an opportunity to synergize their development strategies, share experience and technology in water conservancy construction, water-saving irrigation, disaster prevention and reduction, implement agricultural cooperation such as rice cultivation, advance cooperation in terms of fisheries and poverty reduction, and help Timor-Leste develop its economy independently and in diversified ways.
“Third, we should jointly promote the development of the Global South, carry out multilateral cooperation at a higher level, carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, strengthen coordination and cooperation in the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other multilateral platforms, jointly advocate an equal and orderly multi-polar world and an economic globalization that benefits all, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity,” he said.
Xi noted that China is willing to carry out more bilateral and tripartite cooperation with Timor-Leste within the frameworks of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Ramos-Horta said that he has visited China many times since 1976 and witnessed with his own eyes the earth-shaking changes that have taken place in China. He added that under the leadership of President Xi, China has eliminated absolute poverty, which is a miracle of mankind.
Ramos-Horta said that in the face of profound changes in the international situation, China has firmly upheld multilateralism, and proposed the Belt and Road Initiative and a series of other important global initiatives. China has also facilitated reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as among Palestinian factions, making significant contributions to regional and global peace and development, thereby demonstrating China’s role and influence as a peaceful and responsible major country in today’s world.
He also thanked China for its long-term valuable support for Timor-Leste’s economic and social development and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that Timor-Leste hopes to further consolidate and develop the comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and strengthen cooperation in food security, infrastructure construction and other fields.
Timor-Leste firmly adheres to the one-China principle, believes that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, opposes “Taiwan independence” and interference by external forces, and supports all efforts by China to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Ramos-Horta stressed.
The South China Sea issue should be independently resolved by the countries concerned through negotiations, and Timor-Leste is willing to work with China and other countries in the region to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, he stated.
Ramos-Horta added that Timor-Leste highly appreciates President Xi’s great vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, which reflects the wisdom of the ancient oriental civilization, and stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with China under multilateral frameworks.
After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan and multiple bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of agriculture, green development, digital economy and air transport.
The two sides also issued a joint statement on strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Chinese premier meets president of Timor-Leste
BEIJING, July 28 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta here on Sunday.
Li said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 22 years ago, no matter how the international landscape has evolved, China and Timor-Leste have always understood and supported each other, deepened political mutual trust and achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation.
China is willing to work with Timor-Leste to further carry forward their traditional friendship, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve more results to better benefit the two peoples, Li added.
Noting that China will, as always, firmly support Timor-Leste in pursuing a development path suited to its own national conditions and in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, Li said the two sides should further synergize their development strategies, deepen practical cooperation and inject more impetus into their respective modernization drives.
He said China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Timor-Leste in infrastructure and connectivity under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand mutually beneficial cooperation to a wider range of fields, and help Timor-Leste improve its independent capabilities.
China is willing to import more quality products from Timor-Leste and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Timor-Leste, Li said, adding that China is ready to deepen communication and coordination with Timor-Leste in multilateral areas, strengthen exchanges and cooperation on climate policy, support Timor-Leste’s early accession to ASEAN, and jointly contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.
Noting that China was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste, Ramos-Horta thanked China for its long-term support for Timor-Leste.
He said Timor-Leste highly appreciates China’s important role in international and regional affairs, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, supports and actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative, welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in Timor-Leste, and hopes to deepen cooperation with China in various fields.
Joint Statement between the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
July 29 (MFA)
1.At the invitation of H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Dr. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, embarked on state visit to the People’s Republic of China from 28 – 31 July 2024. This marked the first state visit by a Timorese Head of State since the restoration of independence in May 2002. During the visit, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. Dr. José Ramos-Horta, held cordial and friendly talks with President of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Xi Jinping. The two leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations, regional and international issues of shared interest and reached broad important consensus. Premier Li Qiang of the State Council, Chairman Zhao Leji of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress also met with President José Ramos-Horta.
2.Both nations shared the view that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Timor-Leste 22 years ago, the two countries have acted with mutual respect and treated each other as equals, with the friendship continuing to deepen, and set a fine example of unity and cooperation between countries of different sizes. With both China and Timor-Leste at a critical phase of expediting modernization and realising rejuvenation, while facing historic changes of the world, China-Timor-Leste relations bear greater strategic significance than ever before. The discussions that have taken place this week are a continuation of the conversations held in 2023 around establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. Both nations agreed to carry forward the fine tradition of mutual trust and win-win cooperation, further promote the comprehensive strategic cooperation and strive for a general direction of building the China-Timor-Leste Community with a shared future, with a view to better enhance the well-being of the two peoples.
3.Timor-Leste extended warm congratulations on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the great success of convening the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Timor-Leste commends the impressive achievements China made in the First Decade of the New Era and believes that Chinese modernization presents a new paradigm, which broadens paths and options for developing countries to achieve modernization. Timor-Leste trusts that the Communist Party of China will lead all Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building a great modern socialist country in all aspects, and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.
4.China highly commended Timor-Leste for continuing to advance national rejuvenation and development during the 22 years since the Restoration of Independence and for the important achievements it has made in economic construction and the improvement of livelihoods. China believes that Timor-Leste is well positioned to accelerate national development and expressed its willingness to continue providing assistance to support Timor-Leste’s social and economic progress.
5.The two nations agreed to maintain the positive momentum of high-level exchanges, reinforce strategic communication and solidify friendship and mutual trust so as to keep strengthening bilateral relations. The two nations further agreed to enhance communication among central and local governments, legislative bodies, political parties, promote experience sharing in governance, so as to solidify friendship and political mutual trust.
6.The two nations emphasized that mutual support on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns demonstrated the strategic significance of China-Timor-Leste relations. Both sides stressed that the authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 brooks no dispute. Timor-Leste reiterated its firm unequivocal adherence to the one-China principle, recognized that there is but one China in the world, and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole lawful government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. Timor-Leste is opposed to any form of “Taiwan independence,” will not establish any form of diplomatic relationship or conduct any form of official contacts with Taiwan, and supports all the efforts of the Chinese government to realize national reunification. Timor-Leste firmly respects China’s position on issues related to Xinjiang and Xizang.
China reiterated its firm support for the people of Timor-Leste in choosing the development path best suited to its national circumstances, and for Timor-Leste’s efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and opposes any external interference in Timor-Leste’s internal affairs.
7.Timor-Leste highly appreciated the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by President Xi Jinping and the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. The two nations will make joint efforts to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. President José Ramos-Horta also spoke positively of China’s important role in promoting world peace and development.
8.The two nations will further their development strategies by deepening cooperation in four key areas: industry revitalization, infrastructure development, food security, and livelihood improvement. The Chinese side stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Timor-Leste in such areas as trade and investment, agriculture and fishery, health, water conservancy, energy, education and poverty reduction, expand cooperation on tourism, digital economy, green development and help Timor-Leste to achieve independent and sustainable development. The two sides spoke highly of the achievements of Belt and Road cooperation and agreed to sign BRI Cooperation Plan, Civil Air Transport Agreement and MOU on strengthening agricultural cooperation.
9.The two nations agreed to enhance exchanges at all levels between the military and police forces, strengthen cooperation in such areas as personnel training, equipment technology, the conduct of joint exercises and training, police affairs and law enforcement.
10.The two nations agreed to further strengthen friendship province cooperation between Hunan Province and Manatuto Municipality, and encourage the establishment of sister-city ties between Macao Special Administrative Region and Dili, and continue to enhance sister-city cooperation and people-to-people exchanges to forge closer bonds between the two peoples.
11.China supports Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN, welcomes Timor-Leste to play a larger role in regional cooperation, and will render help within the scope of its capacity to Timor-Leste in capacity building and other aspects. China will share more development opportunities and benefits with Timor-Leste through the platforms of China-ASEAN cooperation and East Asia cooperation. The two sides will jointly uphold regional peace, development and prosperity, oppose cobbling together any exclusive groupings in the region.
China also congratulated Timor-Leste for its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and supports Timor-Leste in better integrating into the multilateral trade system and playing a bigger role in international affairs. Both sides stand ready to safeguard the WTO-centered multilateral trading system and oppose “decoupling”and trade protectionism in any form. As developing member countries of WTO, China and Timor-Leste will jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing member countries.
12.The two nations commended the important role of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macau) in promoting mutually beneficial cooperation and economic ties. Both sides will ensure sound implementation of the outcomes of the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the Forum and enhance cooperation under the framework of the Forum. They also agreed that Timor-Leste has a key bridging role to play in fostering cooperation between China and other Portuguese speaking countries.
13.This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Both sides believed that the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which was included in the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two nations, should be further promoted. All countries, regardless of size, should be treated as equal. China and Timor-Leste support the role of UN in playing a central role in maintaining world peace, promoting common development and advancing international cooperation, and will strengthen mutual support in international affairs. The two nations will firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, the international order based on international law and the norms governing international relations underpinned by the purpose and principles of the UN Charter. Both nations agreed to jointly maintain the unity and cooperation of the international community, oppose hegemonism and power politics, uphold true multilateralism, and promote humanity’s common values of peace, development, equity, justice, freedom, democracy and human rights.
14.China stands ready to support the g7+ initiated by Timor-Leste to play a bigger role in international affairs, encourages developing countries to enhance unity and cooperation to safeguard common interests.
15.The two nations agreed that climate change is a global challenge that requires all countries to respond with joint efforts in accordance with the principle of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, to promote the full and effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement. Developed countries should fulfil their commitment to provide means of implementation, including financial support and technology transfer to developing countries. The Chinese side stands ready to enhance cooperation in disaster prevention and reduction with Timor-Leste and provide assistance to the best of its capability to Timor-Leste in tackling climate change.
16.During the visit, the two sides signed The Cooperation Plan between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on Jointly Promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, and cooperation documents in such areas as agriculture, civil air transport, digital economy, green development, infrastructure, implementation of the GDI, radio and television, media and public culture.
17.President José Ramos-Horta expressed gratitude for the warm, friendly and generous hospitality of President of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and people and looked forward to early visits to Timor-Leste by Chinese leaders.
