Jose Ramos Horta, state minister and minister of foreign affairs and cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, presided over the inauguration ceremony of the Timor-Leste embassy in China in Beijing Tuesday.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and the ambassadors of the United States., Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and many other countries to China attended the inauguration ceremony.

"Since we forged diplomatic tie in 2002, we have witnessed the smooth growth of bilateral relations over the past two years, and the opening of Timor-Leste embassy in China will help facilitate friendly bilateral exchange and cooperation in all spheres," acknowledged Wu in his speech at the ceremony.

While addressing the ceremony, Horta spoke highly of bilateral ties between the two countries and encouraged Chinese entrepreneurs to make investment in Timor-Leste, not only in oil and natural gas industry but in fisheries, meat processing and tourism sectors.

Located in the east tip of Nusa Tenggara Island, southeast Asia, Timor-Leste has a population of 800,000 with a Chinese population approximating 10,000.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2004)