Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao set forth a three-point proposal in Beijing Wednesday to promote bilateral relations between China and East Timor.

The proposal includes beefing up efforts to increase political trust between the two countries through high-level contacts, exploring economic and trade cooperation of mutual benefit, and enhancing the coordination in the regional and international affairs.

Premier Wen conferred with Mari Alkatiri, prime minister of East Timor, and said that the Chinese people have supported and respected the choice of the East Timor people, and the relations between the two countries have been progressing remarkably since the two countries forged their diplomatic ties over a year ago.

The governments, parliaments and parties in power of both countries have built up good relations, and the two countries have cooperated on agriculture and fishing, he said.

China has offered fund and technical aid for the rebuilding of East Timor, Wen said, pledging to continue the aid to East Timor and strengthen the existing relationship between the two countries.

He also appreciated East Timor government's adherence to the One-China policy, and voiced his belief that East Timor would continue its support on China's stance on the Taiwan and Tibet issues.

The Chinese premier said his country would continue to play a positive role in the peace-keeping operation of the United Nations in East Timor.

Prime Minister Alkatiri said China was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with East Timor when the country was founded over a year ago. This fully embodies the Chinese people's support to the people of East Timor,

As a new country, he said, East Timor would like to draw on China's experience in the course of its development, and is ready to enhance bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and trade, and health fields.

He also welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in his country in such fields as agriculture, fishing and tourism sectors so as to further the bilateral relations between East Timor and China.

Both Wen and Alkatiri attended a signing ceremony for a trade agreement and five other cooperative documents after their talks.

Before the talks, Premier Wen Jiabao held a welcome ceremony in honor of the East Timor prime minister.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2003)