On March 18, 2016, Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin met with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares of Timor-Leste, who was in China to attend the first meeting of China-Timor-Leste Joint Committee of Economics and Trade.

Liu Zhenmin said that the Chinese side attaches importance to developing comprehensive cooperative partnership with Timor-Leste and will continue to support the construction and development of Timor-Leste as always. China is ready to strengthen connection with Timor-Leste on development strategies and deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation in various areas. Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares expressed gratitude to the Chinese side for its strong support and assistance, indicating that the relationship with China is one of the most important bilateral relations for Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste will work with China to make constant and new progress in bilateral relations.

The two sides also exchanged views on the South China Sea and other issues. Liu Zhenmin briefed on China's position on the South China Sea issue and the arbitration submitted by the Philippines. Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares expressed that Timor-Leste understands China's position, believing that concerned countries should continue to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and resolve relevant disputes peacefully through friendly consultation and negotiation in accordance with universally recognized international laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) adopted in 1982.