(AseanAll) — On October 21st, 2026, in Dili, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, Jesuína Maria Ferreira Gomes, and the Vice-Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, Yan Dong, co-chaired the second meeting of the Joint Committee on Bilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation between Timor-Leste and China, which aimed to assess bilateral cooperation and identify new opportunities in trade, investment, and economic and technical cooperation.
The meeting, held in the Grand Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, was attended by senior officials from both Governments under the theme “Promoting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Timor-Leste and China through Trade and Economic Cooperation for Sustainable Economic Development and Transformation”.
The two delegations reviewed the current state of bilateral economic cooperation. They discussed measures to deepen trade relations, promote investment, facilitate access for Timorese products to the Chinese market, develop digital trade, and strengthen economic and technical cooperation.
Opportunities for cooperation through the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macau Forum) and ASEAN–China economic mechanisms were also analysed, considering Timor-Leste’s integration into the regional organisation and the opportunities arising from deeper regional economic integration.
As part of the Chinese delegation’s visit to Dili, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, met on October 21st with Vice-Minister Yan Dong, accompanied by Vice-Minister Jesuína Gomes and the Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Rangel.
The meeting focused on strengthening trade and investment, economic diversification, tourism connectivity, human capital development, and cooperation through the Macau Forum. China’s support for Timor-Leste’s integration into ASEAN and for preparations for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029 was also discussed.
On October 22nd, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Filipus Nino Pereira, accompanied by the Vice-Minister of Commerce and Industry, Augusto Júnior Trindade, met with Yan Dong to continue discussions on economic and trade cooperation, with a particular focus on opportunities arising from regional economic integration.
The meeting addressed trade facilitation, rules of origin and compliance with product standards, customs cooperation, digital trade, and e-commerce. Both sides further discussed ways to promote greater participation by Timor-Leste in regional supply chains and to expand access for domestic products to the Chinese market.
In this context, attention was drawn to the zero-tariff treatment applied by China, effective from December 1st, 2024, to 100% of tariff lines covered by the regime granted to least developed countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, including Timor-Leste. This measure expanded previous preferential treatment, which covered 98% of tariff lines, thereby creating more favourable conditions for Timorese products to access the Chinese market.
The Minister of Commerce and Industry highlighted Timor-Leste’s interest in increasing exports to China, particularly coffee, seafood, and agricultural products, while emphasising the need to strengthen institutional capacity and create conditions that enable the private sector to benefit from opportunities arising from regional economic integration. The meeting also discussed opportunities to promote Timorese companies and products at trade fairs in China and initiatives developed within the framework of China–ASEAN cooperation.
The second meeting of the Joint Committee continued the bilateral economic and trade dialogue — the first meeting of which was held in March 2016 — and forms part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Timor-Leste and China, established in September 2023.
