East Timor: Beijing embassy to open next year, says PM Alkatiri

Beijing, Nov. 11 (Lusa) - East Timor will open its ninth overseas diplomatic mission next year in the Chinese capital, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said Thursday.

Alkatiri, speaking at the end of a three-day visit to China, said an embassy building and ambassador's residence have already been provided by the Beijing authorities and it only remained for Dili to choose its envoy.

"Having relations with China only brings advantages to a country like Timor", said Alkatiri.

The Timorese leader had traveled to China to attend the annual Business Week forum, during which he met Beijing's former foreign minister, Tang Jiaxuan, now a state counselor on foreign affairs.

"We had good discussions on all aspects of current cooperation between China and Timor", said Alkatiri.

Chinese state news agency Xinhua cited Tang as saying that Beijing will "continue to support the rebuilding of Timor" and "bolster bilateral cooperation".

GG/CJB Lusa