On the morning of July 29, 2024, President Xi Jinping held talks with President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta, who is in China for a state visit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi Jinping noted that President José Ramos-Horta is a founding father of Timor-Leste and a founder of the China-Timor-Leste friendship, and that his visit is the first state visit to China by a Timor-Leste President and is of great historical significance. China and Timor-Leste enjoy a time-honored traditional friendship. China was the first country to recognize Timor-Leste’s independence and establish diplomatic relations with the country. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have always treated each other with sincerity and helped each other, setting a fine example of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and common development between countries with different political systems, development levels, histories and cultures. Two weeks ago, the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was successfully held. China will further deepen reform comprehensively, and promote high-quality development and high-standard opening up, which will bring new impetus and opportunities to global economic development and bilateral cooperation. China is ready to work with Timor-Leste to take the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to new heights and bring more benefits to the two peoples.
Xi Jinping stressed that China is ready to work with Timor-Leste toward "three higher" goals and guide the long-term and stable development of bilateral relations. First, firmly support each other and build a higher-level bilateral relationship. China firmly supports Timor-Leste's efforts to safeguard national unity and social stability, and is ready to deepen strategic coordination and development cooperation with Timor-Leste in an all-round way to safeguard the sovereignty and security interests of the two countries and march toward the goal of jointly building a China-Timor-Leste community with a shared future. Second, stay committed to mutual benefit and win-win results and engage in practical cooperation of higher-quality. Focusing on cooperation in the four key areas of industrial revitalization, infrastructure development, food self-sufficiency and improvement of people's livelihood, the two sides should take the signing of the plan for advancing Belt and Road cooperation as an opportunity to synergize development strategies, share experience and technology in water conservancy construction, water-saving irrigation, and disaster prevention and reduction, carry out effective agricultural cooperation in rice cultivation, and advance cooperation in fishery and poverty reduction, so as to help Timor-Leste achieve economic autonomy and diversified development. Third, jointly advance the cause of the "Global South", and carry out multilateral cooperation at a higher level. The two sides should carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, strengthen coordination and cooperation at the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other multilateral platforms, jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China is also ready to conduct more bilateral and trilateral cooperation with Timor-Leste within the frameworks of the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Ramos-Horta said he has visited China many times since 1976 and witnessed with his own eyes the earth-shaking changes that have taken place in China. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has eliminated absolute poverty, which can be called a miracle of mankind. In the face of profound changes in the world, China has firmly upheld multilateralism, proposed the Belt and Road Initiative and a series of important global initiatives, and facilitated the reconciliation of Saudi Arabia and Iran and of Palestinian factions, making important contributions to regional and world peace and development and demonstrating China's role and influence as a peaceful and responsible major country in the world. He thanked China for its valuable support for Timor-Leste's economic and social development over the years and for the country’s response to COVID-19 pandemic. Timor-Leste hopes to further consolidate and develop the comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and strengthen bilateral cooperation in such fields as food security and infrastructure development, so as to help the country achieve independent national development. 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 made by China to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The South China Sea issue should be independently resolved by the countries concerned through negotiations. Timor-Leste is ready to work with China and other countries in the region to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. Ramos-Horta said he highly appreciates the great vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind put forward by President Xi Jinping, which reflects the wisdom of the ancient Oriental civilization, and is ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with China within multilateral frameworks.
After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of the plan for advancing Belt and Road cooperation and several other bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as agriculture, green development, digital economy, and air transport.
The two sides issued a Joint Statement on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Between the People's Republic of China and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for José Ramos-Horta at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
A 21-gun salute was fired at Tian'anmen Square, and the guard of honor lined up in salutation. After the two heads of state stepped onto the stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Timor-Leste. Accompanied by Xi Jinping, José Ramos-Horta then inspected the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past.
At noon on the same day, Xi Jinping held a welcoming banquet for José Ramos-Horta at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wang Yi was present at the above events.
