DILI, May 20 (Xinhuanet) -- China and East Timor formally
established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level here
Monday.
A Communique on establishing diplomatic relations
signed by the
foreign ministers of both countries made China the first
country
to have set up diplomatic ties with East Timor since it declared
independence early Monday.
It said both governments are
ready to develop friendly
relations and cooperation between the two
countries and to
actively expand cooperation in various fields, particularly
exchanges and cooperation in trade and the economic field on the
basis
of five principles of peaceful coexistence.
The East Timorese
government, which was sworn in by President
Xanana Gusmao Monday morning,
approved the Sino-East Timor joint
Communique at its first cabinet meeting
soon after the
inauguration ceremony.
The Communique said
China respects the independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity of
East Timor.
The East Timorese government recognizes that there
is but one
china in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the
Chinese territory, and that the government of the People's
Republic of
China is the sole legal government representing the
whole of China, said the
Communique.
In an interview with Chinese journalists after
signing the
joint communique, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said
China
attaches much importance to the relations with East Timor.
He said China will take active measures to push forward the
relations between the two countries.
The creation of the
Democratic Republic of East Timor has added
one more new and good-neighborly
partner to China, said Tang, who
was here to attend the independent
celebrations of East Timor.
During the new historic period,
there will be a great potential
for friendly cooperation between China and
East Timor,
particularly in oil and gas exploration, agriculture, fishery
and
telecommunications, Tang said.
The smooth political
development between both sides will
provide favorable conditions for
bilateral economic and trade
cooperation, he added.
China
will support East Timor in joining the United Nations and
other international
and regional organizations, he said.
The Chinese foreign
minister left East Timor Monday after a
three-day visit to Dili, where he
also inaugurated the new Chinese
Embassy in the world's newest country.
Enditem
Chinese President Congratulates East Timor's
Independence
DILI, May 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese President Jiang Zemin Monday
congratulated East Timor President Xanana Gusmao on East Timor's
independence.
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, who
was in Dili to
attend the independence celebrations, conveyed the message to
President Gusmao.
The message said, "On the occasion of the
proclamation of
independence of the Democratic Republic of East Timor, I
wish to
extend, on behalf of the Government and people of the People's
Republic of China and in my own name, our warm congratulations and
best
wishes to Your Excellency and, through Your Excellency, to
your Government
and people."
"The smooth fruition of the independence process
of East Timor
opens a new chapter in the history of your country. I have
every
confidence that, under your leadership and through the joint
endeavors of your people, the newborn Democratic Republic of East
Timor
will enjoy an even brighter future," the message said.
It
added, "The traditional friendship between the people of
China and the
people of East Timor dates back to ancient times.
Over the recent years, the
two sides have kept up exchanges and
cooperation in political, economic,
trade and other fields."
"The establishment of diplomatic
relations between China and
East Timor on the occasion of the proclamation
of independence of
your country lays a solid foundation for the future
development of
the bilateral relations. I am ready to work relentlessly with
Your
Excellency to constantly promote the good neighborly and friendly
ties and cooperation between China and East Timor." Enditem
Full Text
of The Message From Jiang
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