On November 24, 2023, Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong met with the newly-appointed Ambassador of Timor-Leste to China Maubere Lorosae da Silva Horta.

Nong Rong welcomed Maubere Lorosae da Silva Horta to China for the assumption of his new post, and said that President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão jointly announced to upgrade the relationship between China and Timor-Leste to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September this year, opening a new chapter of bilateral relations. China is ready to work with Timor-Leste to implement the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation, and push for constant and solid progress in the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Maubere Lorosae da Silva Horta said that China's development brings important opportunities for the world, and the cooperation between Timor-Leste and China has a broad prospect. Timor-Leste attaches great importance to developing relations with China, and stands ready to take the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries as an opportunity to further expand bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields and continuously achieve new progress in bilateral relations.