DILI, 14 April 2025 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gumão, on Sunday (13/04), paid an official visit to China’s Hunan Province to strengthen the bilateral cooperation.
Upon his arrival at the Huanghua International Airport in Changsha, Gusmão was warmly received by the Governor of Hunan, Mao Weiming; the Vice President of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress, Wang Junshou; the Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Wang Wenli; the Timorese Ambassador to China, Loro Horta; as well as diplomatic representatives, local authorities, and Timorese students.
The official visit reflected the special relationship between Timor-Leste and Hunan Province, established more than a decade ago with the Municipality of Manatuto.
“Welcome, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão. We feel honored and grateful to host your visit to Hunan Province, which will contribute to strengthening the already existing cooperation,” said Governor Mao Weiming during the welcome ceremony.
During the five-day visit, from April 13 to 17, Gusmão will be accompanied by Tomás do Rosário Cabral, the Minister of State Administration; Gastão Francisco de Sousa, the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment; and the Presidents of the Municipal Authorities of Baucau, Ainaro, Manatuto, Covalima, and Manufahi.
During the five-day meeting, proposed cooperation projects for the aforementioned municipalities will be presented, focusing on agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, with the aim of establishing new partnerships with the authorities of Hunan Province.
PM Gusmão is set to visit several industrial sites, including the Hunan Province Geological Institute, Zhuzhou Beidou Industrial Park, the Liuyang Qingtai International Fireworks Exhibition Center, the Smart Industrial City of Zoomlion, as well as the facilities of Royal Group Hunan Youshi Dairy Co. Ltd. These visits aim to identify investment opportunities and facilitate knowledge transfer for Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
