On April 23, 2019, Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou met with former President Xanana Gusmão of East Timor, who came to China for the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF).

Kong Xuanyou welcomed the East Timorese delegation led by Xanana Gusmão for the BRF again in China. Speaking positively of relations between the two countries, Kong Xuanyou expressed that the Chinese side attaches great importance to its relations with East Timor, and is willing to work together with the East Timorese side and take the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as an opportunity to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and better support East Timor's national construction, so as to push relations between the two countries for greater development.

Xanana Gusmão said that East Timor highly values and supports the BRI, and believes that the BRI cooperation will vigorously promote its national development. Appreciating the Chinese side's long-term support and assistance, the East Timorese side stands ready to continue enhancing comprehensive practical cooperation with the Chinese side, in a bid to expand mutual benefit and win-win results.