China has assigned Liu Hongyang as the new Ambassador to East Timor, replacing Tian Guangfeng, who served in that post for more than three years.

Mr Liu on Tuesday presented his credentials to East Timor’s President, Taur Matan Ruak, said the East Timor Presidency office.

Mr Liu stated in the meeting – as quoted by a press statement of the Chinese Embassy –, that he hopes to “strengthen the traditional friendship between China and East Timor while further deepening the practical bilateral co-operation in every field”.

He added he would strive to enhance “the exchanges of people and civil associations between the two countries”.

Mr Ruak was quoted as saying his nation was “grateful for the long-term support offered by China in its socio-economic development”.

According to the statement of the East Timor Presidency, China and the Southeast Asian nation have signed 13 co-operation deals worth 697.8 million yuan (US$112.39 million) in the past 13 years, in areas including agriculture, defence and human resources.

Beijing “is committed to supporting [East Timor] with capacity building” this year, the statement said. About 300 civil servants and technicians from the country have been invited to participate in seminars and workshops in China, it added.

Before assuming his diplomatic post in East Timor this month, Mr Liu worked in China’s embassies in Germany and Indonesia.