BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday extended congratulations to Mari Alkatiri on his election as Timor-Leste's prime minister.
In his congratulatory message, Li said China and Timor-Leste are friendly neighbors and have established a comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring good neighborly relations, mutual trust and mutual benefit.
Over the past few years, the two countries have continuously enhanced political mutual trust, carried out all-round pragmatic cooperation, and expanded people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Li said, saying bilateral relations are showing a good momentum with steady and fast development.
Li said he is willing to establish a sound working relationship and personal friendship with Alkatiri to jointly advance the China-Timor-Leste relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples.
Alkatiri, born in 1949, served as Timor-Leste's prime minister from 2002 to 2006. He has been re-elected for the 2017-2021 tenure.
