DILI, 04 june 2022 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste and the People’s Republic of China had officially, on friday, signed bilateral agreements on four key areas, namely economic cooperation agreement, medical cooperation, media (broadcasters) cooperation between TL’s State-owned TV (RTTL) and Chinese TV, and agreement on a feasibility study of the Demonstration Project of the DTMB.
The agreement was signed in a meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MoFAC) by Timor-Leste’s Foreign Minister, Adaljiza Magno, and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on friday evening.
Magno said Timor-Leste and China also had planned to sign a bilateral agreement on the operation of the Civil Air Transport to Timor-Leste: “The elaboration of the agreement is underway and of course, TL and China will sign this agreement on another occasion.”
On the occasion, both parties discuss a number of priority sectors that TL and China were willing to cooperate in the future.
“We talked about strengthening bilateral relations between Timor-Leste and China in the economic sector. We also request Minister Wang Yi to convince his government to invest in Timor-Leste, especially in the agricultural sector,” Magno said.
On behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste, Magno thanked the Chinese Government for its significant contribution in helping Timor-Leste’s efforts with the prevention and mitigation of the Covid-19: “I also want to express our appreciation for Chinese support in helping Timor-Leste following the April 4 Flash Flood. China has contributed to Timor-Leste’s national development for more than two decades now.”
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, (MCAE) Joagim Amaral, said singing economic cooperation agreement with China would pave way for Timor-Leste to export its products internationally.
“We all know that the export of Timor-Leste’s goods overseas is very low. Thus, this economic cooperation agreement will open the way for us to increase our exports,” said Amaral.
Amaral emphasized that the signing of the economic cooperation agreement would encourage the involvement of the private sectors in trade, adding TL’s private sectors can export their goods to China and vice versa.
“China is the world’s largest economy right now, therefore, Timor-Leste’s relationship with China is crucial for Timor-Leste’s economic development as well as in other sectors,” he concluded.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia Borges
