On October 20, 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 and international and regional issues of common concern.

Liu Jinsong said that China and Timor-Leste have always been good friends who support each other and treat each other with sincerity. As early as the Southern Song Dynasty in the 13th century, the two countries had trade exchanges. Chinese ancient books record these friendly exchanges in detail. Timor-Leste's "lignaloes" has long enjoyed a great reputation among the Chinese people. During Chinese Navigator Zheng He's seven voyages in the Ming Dynasty, he visited Timor with his fleet. When Timor-Leste became independent in 2002, China was the first country to recognize and establish diplomatic ties with Timor-Leste. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have carried forward their traditional friendship and conducted extensive cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, education, peacekeeping and other fields, providing strong support for the development of Timor-Leste. After the outbreak of COVID-19, China was the first to offer assistance to Timor-Leste, and has continued to provide assistance to Timor-Leste within its capacity. In the first eight months of 2021, bilateral trade grew by 40 percent against the trend.

Liu Jinsong said that 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Timor-Leste. China is willing to continue strengthening high-level exchanges and deepening development cooperation with Timor-Leste, in particular, giving full play to the benefits of major cooperation projects within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. China is ready to meet Timor-Leste's demand for diversified economic development, increase development assistance to Timor-Leste with the focus on key areas such as medical care, agriculture and education, and expand the pool of bilateral cooperation projects. We also welcome Timor-Leste to continue participating in the Forum Macao, creating more opportunities for Timor-Leste's economic development and China-Timor-Leste cooperation.

Santos said, the friendly exchanges between Timor-Leste and China have been going on for a thousand years. What you said is not only a new chapter of the bilateral friendship, but also a long story of friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China has provided generous assistance for Timor-Leste's development. In the area of agriculture, China has carried out technical cooperation on hybrid rice in Timor-Leste since 2008, which has greatly helped Timor-Leste increase its grain production and economic development. On behalf of the Timor-Leste's government and people, I would like to express our deep condolences on the death of Academician Yuan Longping, China's "father of hybrid rice". He and many other friendly Chinese people will always be remembered for their positive contributions to Timor-Leste's development.

Santos said that I have visited nine Chinese provinces and cities in the past one and a half years since I took office and I deeply appreciate the people-centered governance philosophy of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government. I deeply admire China's tremendous achievements in development, especially the great achievement of lifting China out of absolute poverty. What is more commendable is that China is actively leading regional and global development while pursuing its own development. I realize that one of the purposes of the Belt and Road Initiative is to achieve common development and common prosperity so that no one will be left behind. This is really amazing. Timor-Leste appreciates China's selfless assistance in its fight against the pandemic and stands ready to work with China to deepen practical cooperation in various fields and jointly push for greater development of Timor-Leste-China comprehensive cooperative partnership of good-neighborliness, friendship, mutual trust and mutual benefit.