The Chinese Embassy in Timor-Leste held an Open House reception to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year
2020-02-14 15:57

On January 22nd, 2020, H.E. Dr. Xiao Jianguo, Ambassador of China to Timor-Leste held an Open House reception to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rat at the Embassy graced by guest of honor, H.E. Dr. Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares, Minister for Foreig Affairs and Cooperation,H.E. Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta, Former President, H.E. Mr. Luís Roberto da Silva, Vice-President of National Parliament, H.E. Mr. Filomeno da Paixao de Jesus, Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior, H.E. Mrs. Élia António de Araújo das Reis Amaral, Vice-Minister for Primary Health Care, H.E. Mr. Arsénio Pereira da Silva, Secretary of State for Cooperatives, H.E. Mr. Merízio Juvenal dos Reis “Akara”, Secretary of State for Social Communications, H.E. Mr. Alexandrino de Araújo, Secretary of State for Civil Protection and other representatives of the Timorese Government, National Parliament, Armed Forces, Overseas Chinese in Timor-Leste, the Chinese medical team and the Timorese overseas students in China, totaling about 300 people.

Ambassador Xiao extended his greetings to all overseas Chinese in Timor-Leste and people from all walks of life who have contributed to the friendship between China and Timor-Leste. He said that during the past year of 2019, we grandly celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of the return of Macau to China. Against the background that the world economy growth is slowing down, China has maintained stable and sound economic growth of 6.1%, China’s GDP is approaching 100 trillion yuan, and its per capita income has surpassed 10,000 US dollars. China firmly follows the path of peaceful development, promotes to build a community of shared future for mankind, firmly opposes unilateralism and hegemonism. China’s circle of friends has been expanded.

Ambassador Xiao said that in 2019, China-Timor-Leste relations are poised for growth. High-level exchanges between the two countries continued, the Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries has deepened continuously, bilateral cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, human resources development and exchanges of local regions have yielded fruitful results. The year of 2020 will be a milestone in the development of China and Timor-Leste. China will finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieve the first centenary goal. Timor-Leste will enter a key period for the implementation of Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030. As a good neighbor, friend and partner of Timor-Leste, China sincerely hopes Timor-Leste will keep stable, develop itself and its people live a happy and peaceful life. China will continue to provide assistance and support to Timor-Leste in its national development. We firmly believes that, with the joint efforts of the both sides, the China-Timor-Leste relations will stride forward and bring more benefits to our two peoples.

Ambassador Xiao said that in the coming new year, the Chinese Embassy will continuously put people’s well-being first, provide better consular services and assistance to overseas Chinese in Timor-Leste, and safeguard their security, legitimate rights and interests. He hopes all overseas Chinese in Timor-Leste will abide by the law, live in harmony with their neighbors and have a successful career, striving for the development of China-Timor-Leste relations and the friendship between the two countries.

On behalf of the Timorese government, Dr. Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares extended Chinese New Year’s greetings to the Chinese people and overseas Chinese in Timor-Leste. He said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 18 years ago, the relations between the two countries has developed smoothly on the basis of mutual respect and equality, and high-level exchanges have become increasingly close, and mutual trust has gradually deepened. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, substantial progress has been made in cooperation in economy, trade, health and people-to-people exchanges, and good communication and coordination has been maintained in international and regional affairs. It is believed that with the joint efforts of the two peoples, bilateral relations will surely continue to develop in a sound and in-depth way. Long live the friendship between Timor-Leste and China!

This year, for the first time, The Chinese Embassy held the Open House reception to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, introducing the Chinese Spring Festival to Timor-Leste people in various ways, such as preparing delicious foods together with Chinese enterprises and overseas Chinese in Timor-Leste, having wonderful lion dancing performances, and interactive games, offering Chinese Spring Festival couplets. Ambassador Xiao Jianguo and Dr. Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares jointly wrote the word “Fortune in Chinese” to send everyone a Chinese New Year’s blessing. At the event, the red lanterns were decorated with warm atmosphere, and the guests exchanged mutual greetings for the Chinese New Year.

At the same time, a picture exhibition on “Human Rights in Xinjiang - Development and Progress” was held and a video of Xinjiang's economic and social development was broadcast, which attracted the attention and welcome from the guests.

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