Timor-Leste's donation of 500, 000 U.S. dollars to aid victims of the devastating 2008 Wenchuan earthquake is a symbol of enduring friendship and mutual respect between the two countries, said the country's president Jose Ramos-Horta in an interview on Tuesday.
On May 12, 2008, a powerful earthquake jolted Sichuan Province in southwest China, leading to the deaths of more than 69,000 people. Following the disaster, Timor-Leste donated 500,000 U.S. dollars to quake-hit Sichuan, marking its first donation to another country. The country also mourned the victims of the earthquake under the leadership of Ramos-Horta.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) during his recent trip to China, Ramos-Horta said the donation was a tangible expression of the longstanding friendship between the two sides.
"Even though China is one million times bigger and richer than Timor-Leste, for us, it was a gesture of a friend. We are poor, but we are going to contribute to help our Chinese friends. It is our gesture of friendship, of recognition of China," said Ramos-Horta.
At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Timor-Leste's president paid a state visit to China from July 28 to 31. This is Ramos-Horta's first visit to China after he took office in 2022 and the first state visit by a Timor-Leste president to China since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2002.
Timor-Leste's 2008 earthquake donation to China symbol of enduring friendship: president
