China and Timor-Leste have agreed to enhance their bilateral ties and expand practical cooperation, especially under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta, in Beijing on Sunday to discuss strengthening relations and boosting collaborative efforts.
Premier Li noted that since establishing diplomatic relations 22 years ago, China and Timor-Leste have consistently understood and supported each other, deepening political mutual trust and achieving fruitful results in practical cooperation. He emphasized China’s readiness to work with Timor-Leste to further their traditional friendship, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieve more outcomes to benefit both peoples.
Highlighting China’s steadfast support for Timor-Leste in pursuing a development path suited to its own national conditions and safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and development interests, Li stressed the importance of aligning their development strategies. He underscored the need to deepen practical cooperation and inject more impetus into their respective modernization drives.
China is prepared to enhance cooperation with Timor-Leste in infrastructure and connectivity under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Li expressed China’s willingness to expand mutually beneficial cooperation to a wider range of fields and help Timor-Leste improve its independent development capabilities. He also mentioned China’s intent to import more quality products from Timor-Leste and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in the country.
Furthermore, Li stated 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.
President Ramos-Horta expressed gratitude to China for its long-term support, noting that China was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste. He highly appreciated China’s important role in international and regional affairs and emphasized Timor-Leste’s firm adherence to the one-China principle. Ramos-Horta stated that Timor-Leste supports and actively participates in the BRI, welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest, and hopes to deepen cooperation with China in various fields.
The meeting signifies a strengthened commitment between China and Timor-Leste to enhance their partnership and collaborate on initiatives that promote mutual development and regional stability.
Reference(s):
China, Timor-Leste to enhance ties and expand BRI cooperation
cgtn.com
