China's leading official newspaper the People's Daily, in an editorial published on Tuesday, hails the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and East Timor as a major event in the relations between the two countries.
In the editorial, the paper said the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries not only accords with the interests of the two peoples, but also benefits peace and stability in Southeast Asia and even the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, the move enjoys wide-ranging welcome from the international community.
It points out that China and East Timor have been friendly neighbors and the two peoples have kept long-term exchange.
China has for long insisted that the problem of East Timor be solved " through peaceful negotiations within the framework of the United Nations."
"In recent years, relations between China and East Timor have achieved new development. And there have been continuous exchange and cooperation between the two sides in the political and economic fields and trade," it says.
China supports East Timor in its effort to seek independence and rebuild its economy by providing unselfish assistance, the editorial recalls.
It also praises the stance expressed by East Timor in the joint China-East Timor communique that East Timor recognizes that there is only one China in the world and the People's Republic of China is the legitimate government representing China while Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. East Timor pledges not to have any form of official relations with Taiwan.
The editorial expresses the belief that the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries has opened broad prospects for the two countries to conduct friendly cooperation in all field in the future.
(People's Daily May 21, 2002)
