DILI, 10 february 2026 (TATOLI) – President José Ramos-Horta, alongside China’s Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Wang Wenli, House Speaker Fernanda Lay, Foreign Minister Bendito Freitas, government officials, foreign dignitaries, the community of Chinese descent, Chinese nationals living in the country, and local residents, celebrated the 2026 Chinese Spring Festival.
The cultural gala was held at the Presidential Palace on monday, 9 february to mark the Lunar New Year and celebrate the longstanding ties between the two nations.
Held under the theme “Experiencing the Beauty of Chinese Art and Culture,” the celebration featured cultural performances and traditional Chinese cuisine, highlighting the richness of China’s heritage and the friendship between the peoples of Timor-Leste and China.
The Chinese Spring Festival is the oldest and most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation, carrying forward the values of peace, amity and harmony. It embodies common values of humanity including family harmony, social inclusiveness, and harmony between man and nature.
The Chinese Spring Festival has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Nearly 20 countries worldwide, including eight ASEAN member states, have designated it as a public holiday.
The President expressed his sincere gratitude to the Chinese Embassy for sharing these festivities with the Timorese people, noting that the gathering stands as a living testimony to the friendship and mutual understanding that unite both nations.
During his keynote address, the Head of State emphasized the profound historical ties between Timor-Leste and China, tracing back centuries to the sandalwood trade and Macau.
The President praised the modern contributions of the Chinese community and entrepreneurs who have been instrumental in building the nation’s infrastructure, from roads and bridges to the electricity grid.
President Ramos-Horta highlighted the elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, affirming Timor-Leste’s commitment to the “One Belt, One Road” initiative and the New Maritime Silk Road, which continue to foster connectivity, economic diversification, and professional development across the country.
Highlighting the symbolism of 2026, the President noted that the Year of the Yang Fire Horse represents a period of movement, courage, and profound transformation.
The Head of the State encouraged the nation to embrace this energy to accelerate structural projects and strengthen community harmony.
In a call for national progress, President Ramos-Horta said: “Together, they point to a year of positive acceleration, in which responsible boldness, optimism, and strategic vision will be essential to face challenges and create new opportunities.”
President Ramos-Horta concluded the ceremony by thanking President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people for their 24 years of unwavering support since the restoration of independence, wishing all a prosperous “Xīnnián kuàilè” and “Gong Xi Fa Cai.”
China and Timor-Leste enjoy a long history of exchanges. About 2% of Timor-Leste’s population are of Chinese descent, and nearly 6,000 Chinese citizens work and live in Timor-Leste.
In recent years, as China-Timor-Leste relations continued to deepen, the Chinese Spring Festival has increasingly become part of the social fabric of Timor-Leste.
The festive “Chinese New Year atmosphere” is growing ever stronger on the streets of Dili. This vividly reflects the integration of Chinese Spring Festival culture into the local diverse culture and showcases the increasingly close people-to-people exchanges and deepening mutual understanding between our two peoples.
Ambassador Wenli said that the Chinese Spring Festival is the most significant traditional holiday of the Chinese nation.
“Through today’s event, I hope the Timorese people could experience the culture, customs, and traditions of the Chinese Spring Festival in person and join the Chinese people in enjoying the joyful and festive spirit,” said Ambassador Wenli in her remarks.
She said that 2026 is the Chinese Lunar Year of the Horse, which in Chinese culture symbolizes strength, diligence, tenacity and progress.
“In the New Year, the Chinese Embassy in Timor-Leste, with the pioneering spirit of the horse, stands ready to work with all sectors of Timor-Leste, to consolidate the high-level development of China-Timor-Leste relations, to advance practical cooperation projects between our two countries, and to enhance services and to support for overseas Chinese in Timor-Leste,” she Wenli.
On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Timor-Leste, the ambassador extended her best New Year wishes to overseas Chinese living in the country, members of the Chinese community, and the Timorese people. “May you enjoy good health, family happiness, and success in the Year,” she added.
Ambassador Wenli thanked the art group from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region who have come from afar. “I also wish to express our gratitude to the Presidential Palace for its strong support and efforts in making this event possible,” she concluded.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
