Nine officials of the Timor-Leste Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation have visited China with a view to enhancing the Sino-Timor-Leste relationship, the Chinese Embassy in Dili says.

The Embassy issued a written statement saying the officials visited Beijing, and the southern Chinese cities of Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Zhuhai between June 23 and June 29.

The statement says the visitors called at Peking University, and at the head offices of China Railway Group Ltd, China Merchants Group Ltd and Tencent Holdings Ltd.

The statement quotes Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste Xiao Jianguo as saying the visit would increase Sino-Timor-Leste mutual understanding, exchanges and cooperation.

The Ambassador said China was amenable to greater cooperation with Timor-Leste in various fields to develop the Sino-Timor-Leste relationship, the Chinese Embassy in Dili says.