On December 9, 2021, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Liu Jinsong met with Ambassador of Timor-Leste to China Abrao Dos Santos. The two sides exchanged views on China-Timor-Leste relations.

Liu Jinsong said, China and Timor-Leste are friendly neighbors facing each other across the sea. China has been following and supporting Timor-Leste's national development and stands ready to continue to provide sincere assistance for Timor-Leste's development and its fight against the pandemic. Not long ago, the ninth batch of Chinese medical teams assisting Timor-Leste successfully arrived in the country to provide services, and will continue to contribute to public health in Timor-Leste. A new batch of China's anti-pandemic and medical aid supplies urgently needed in Timor-Leste will soon be sent. China has also worked actively with the UN World Food Programme to provide nutritional cereal powder to malnourished pregnant women and lactating women affected by the pandemic and floods throughout Timor-Leste, so as to help the next generation in Timor-Leste grow up. In the first 10 months of this year, China's import of agricultural products from Timor-Leste increased by over 90 percent. I would like to thank President Lu Olo for his congratulations on the successful convening of the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and his positive comments on China's poverty alleviation cause. As the Timor-Leste proverb goes, "Cooperation means working together to achieve common goals", China is always ready to be a good neighbor, friend and partner of Timor-Leste and continue to move forward shoulder to shoulder with Timor-Leste on the path of development. Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Timor-Leste. In Chinese cultural tradition, the age of 20 is known as "Ruo Guan", which symbolizes gradual maturity and hope. China is ready to work with Timor-Leste to plan celebration activities, further deepen political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and push for further fruits of China-Timor-Leste comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring good-neighborliness, friendship, mutual trust and mutual benefit.

Santos said the friendly exchanges between Timor-Leste and China over the past 20 years are a vivid portrayal of the profound friendship between the two countries. Timor-Leste attaches great importance to developing relations with China and sincerely appreciates China's long-term valuable support and assistance to Timor-Leste, especially its timely and selfless assistance at the critical moment of Timor-Leste's fight against the pandemic. Timor-Leste looks forward to grand celebrations with China next year to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and is ready to deepen cooperation with China to bring more benefits to the two countries and two peoples.

Liu Jinsong also delivered in person and introduced the white paper titled "China: Democracy That Works" released by the State Council Information Office on December 4 to Santos.