China will donate office supplies to East Timor to support a training centre for diplomats, the Chinese Embassy in the country said in a statement.

The donation was made after Tian Guangfeng, Chinese Ambassador to East Timor, and Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares, East Timor’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, signed a cooperation agreement earlier this week.

The donation “reflects the sincerity of the Chinese Government to support East Timor in improving the country’s development,” Mr Tian was quoted saying.

“China wishes to further expand the scope of cooperation with the Government of East Timor, after having achieved success in trade and business bilateral exchanges,” he added.

Mr Soares was quoted saying his country hopes to “maintain its close ties with China”.