East-Timor president begins first official visit to China

The President of East-Timor, Taur Matan Ruak

The President of East-Timor, Taur Matan Ruak, began yesterday his first official visit to China, during which various meetings and ceremonies will take place, indicates a statement released on Monday in Dili.
Taur Matan Ruak will remain in China until 5 September. He is accompanied by Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Hernâni Coelho and other high-ranking officials.
The statement released by the president’s office explained that the visit aims to “thank China for having been the first country to recognise the declaration of independence of Timor-Leste (East Timor) on 28 November 1975 and to establish diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste when independence was restored on 20 May 2002.”
During the visit the president also aims to thank China for its “contribution to the development of Timor-Leste and to enhance cooperation between the two countries.” That cooperation can be augmented “in the scope of the New Silk Route, given Timor-Leste’s strategic geographic location in the Asia/Pacific region.”
Taur Matan Ruak also plans to invite Chinese leaders to take part this coming 28 November in commemorations of the 40th anniversary of Timor-Leste’s declaration of independence, to be held in the Oecusse enclave.
MDT/Macauhub