I. Political Relations

Since East Timor held its referendum and broke away from Indonesia in August 1999, their have been growing contacts between China and East Timor. In September 2001, China established its ambassadorial-level representative office in Dili. On May 20, 2002, the very day East Timor declared its independence, China and the former established diplomatic relations.

Following are the main contacts between the both sides over the recent years: In January 2000, Chairman of East Timor National Resistance Committee Xanana visited China. In August 2001, President of China Friendship Association with Foreign Countries Qi Huaiyuan went to East Timor to attend the first anniversary celebrations of its referendum. On May 20 2002 while East Timor declared its independence, President Jiang Zemin, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC Li Peng and Premier Zhu Rongji sent congratulatory messages to President of East Timor Xanana Speaker Luolo and Prime Minister Alkatiri respectively. On behalf of the Chinese Government, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan attended the independence celebrations of East Timor and singed the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries with Foreign Minister of East Timor. In July the same year, Commander of East Timor National Force visited China. In September, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met his East Timor counterpart Horta while attending the 57th General Assembly of the UN in New York. In October, Vice-Secretary of Revolutionary Front (East Timor's ruling party) Jose Reis visited China. In December, Foreign Minister Horta visited China.

II. Economic and Trade Relations China's Assistance

Economic and trade cooperation has started between China and East Timor. In March 2000, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Guangxiang visited East Timor as head of China's economic and trade delegation. In May 2002, China International Trade Promotional Association sent a delegation to East Timor to Participate in the international exhibition on the occasion of the island's independence. In August 2002, China's International Petroleum and Natural Gas Co Ltd. And the Government of East Timor signed an agreement on cooperation in exploring and developing petroleum and natural gas.

Over the recent years, a number of agreements on economic and technological cooperation have been signed between both sides. The Chinese side donated to East Timor some farming machinery and fishing gear, and provided training for its civil servants so as to support its economic reconstruction. China took an active part in the UN's work of aiding East Timor, and sent to the country 198-person-times of peacekeeping police, including 20 more sent there in 2002.

III. Important Bilateral Documents

In May 2002, During his visit to East Timor, Foreign Ministers Tang Jiaxuan and Horta signed the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and Democratic Republic of East Timor in Dili.