On June 1, Ambassador Dr. Xiao Jianguo called on Prime Minister Ruak in PM's Office. The two sides exchanged views on international cooperation in fighting against COVID-19.
Ambassador Xiao expressed appreciation to the Timorese government for its effective achievements in fighting against COVID-19 and briefed him on recent donations of China to support Timor-Leste, stressing that, after the outbreak of epidemic, China is the first country to donate medical supplies to Timor-Leste, the first country to deliver medical supplies by chartered flights to Timor-Leste and has donated the largest number of face masks to Timor-Leste.
Ambassador Xiao said that as a country with a weaker public health system, Timor-Leste urgently needs the international cooperation and assistance. At the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA), President Xi Jinping announced that China will support countries affected by COVID-19, especially developing countries to fight against epidemic and restore economic and social development. Besides that, COVID-19 vaccine development and deployment in China, when available, will be made a global public good. These measures fully demonstrate the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and provides a broader prospect of cooperation for China and Timor-Leste in the future. China is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Timor-Leste, provide necessary assistance and support the Timorese side in strengthening capacity of public health for better response to risks and challenges caused by COVID-19.
Prime Minister Ruak expressed his sincere gratitude to China for the valuable donations of medical supplies on behalf of the Timorese Government and people, saying that by the ravages of COVID-19, the Timorese Government was confronted with enormous difficulties in fighting against epidemic, the Chinese Government, Jack Ma Foundation & Alibaba Foundation have donated medical supplies to Timor-Leste in a timely manner, which supports the Timorese government in fighting against the epidemic, playing an important role in protecting the safety and health of the Timorese People. The Timorese government will never forget.
Prime Minister Ruak highly appreciated President Xi Jinping's important speech made at the 73rd WHA, emphasizing that the virus does not respect borders and the international community should fight COVID-19 through solidarity and cooperation. The inspiring initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping provided firm support for multilateralism, the anti-epidemic work of WHO and developing countries. As a beneficiary of international cooperation in fighting against COVID-19, Timor-Leste fully recognizes and expects initiatives of President Xi Jinping, hoping that the international community could continue to strengthen cooperation and win the battle against the epidemic. In addition, Timor-Leste is willing to maintain close communication and cooperation with China, strive to alleviate the impact of the epidemic on the socio-economic development of Timor-Leste and cooperation between the two countries, promoting the steady and sound development of bilateral relations.
Ambassador Xiao also briefed Prime Minister Ruak on the decision adopted by the Chinese National People's Congress to establish and improve a legal system and enforcement mechanisms of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for safeguarding national security. Prime Minister Ruak said that Hong Kong affairs are internal affairs of China. Timor-Leste upholds the principle of non-interference in other country's internal affairs, understands and supports the relevant decision made by the National People's Congress.
Ambassador Dr. Xiao Jianguo also gave an interview to the media such as RTTL and Tatoli after the meeting.