Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with Timor-Leste's Foreign Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa on Friday in Beijing.

Xi said China and Timor-Leste had maintained smooth relations since they forged diplomatic ties in 2002. China would support Timor-Leste's development by all means, he said.

He expressed gratitude to Timor-Leste for its adherence to the one-China policy, and its support on issues concerning China's core interest.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Timor-Leste's Foreign Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa in Beijing, China, June 5, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
As developing countries, both China and Timor-Leste were facing the tasks of speeding up economic growth and improving people's living standards, Xi said, pledging to expand cooperation and relations between China and Timor-Leste.

Da Costa said his country valued relations with China and would push forward cooperation in political, trade, human resource development and other areas.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with his Timor-Leste counterpart on Friday morning.

Source: Xinhua