On 19 December 2024, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with Ambassador Maubere Lorosae Da Silva Horta of Timor-Leste to China.

Secretary General Shi welcomed Ambassador Loro on his visit to the ACC, stressing that the ACC has long been committed to facilitating cooperation and exchanges between China and ASEAN countries in various fields such as trade, economy and culture. The Centre is pleased to see Timor-Leste become the observer of ASEAN and welcomes the Ambassador and the Timor-Leste Embassy in China to leverage on the ACC platforms in promoting trade policies, cultural and tourism resources of Timor-Leste in China, so as to enhance the public awareness and serve the latter in increasing trade with China, attracting more Chinese investment and strengthening its economic resilience.

Ambassador Loro spoke highly of the work of the Centre, noting that its activities are comprehensive and practical, effectively facilitating the bridge between ASEAN Member States (AMS), Timor-Leste and Chinese local governments as well as business sectors, helping them to better share resources, match demands and materialize collaboration. With the support of all AMS, Timor-Leste is actively working on the formal entry of ASEAN at an earliest date. The Ambassador and the Timor-Leste Embassy are willing to continue supporting and participating in the ACC activities, and look forward to seeking cooperation opportunities in areas such as trade, economy, agriculture and livelihood projects, that are expected to yield early results soon.