The Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, began an official visit to the Province of Hunan in the People’s Republic of China this Sunday, April 13^th, 2025. On arrival at Huanghua International Airport in Changsha, the provincial capital, the Head of Government was warmly welcomed by the Governor of Hunan, Mao Weiming, the Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Assembly, Wang Junshou, the Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Wang Wenli, the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to China, Loro Horta, and by diplomatic representatives, local authorities and Timorese students.

The visit is part of the bilateral cooperation between Timor-Leste and the Province of Hunan, with emphasis on the relationship of friendship and exchange established over a decade ago with the Municipality of Manatuto. “Welcome, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão. We are honored and grateful to be able to host your visit to the Province of Hunan, which will contribute to strengthening existing cooperation,” said Governor Mao Weiming during the welcoming ceremony. 

During the five-day visit, from April13^th to 17^th, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by the Ministers of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, and Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, as well as the Presidents of the Municipal Authorities of Baucau, Ainaro, Manatuto, Cova Lima and Manufahi. 

During the visit, cooperation projects proposed for each Timorese municipality will be presented, focusing on the areas of agriculture, livestock and fisheries, with the aim of establishing new partnerships with the authorities of the Province of Hunan. On Monday morning of April 14^th, the Head of Government will pay tribute to the historic leader Mao Zedong with a visit to the square and former residence located in Shaoshan.  On the same day, in the afternoon, he will visit the Institute of Geology of the Province of Hunan, where he will meet with institutional officials to explore opportunities for scientific and technical cooperation. 

The agenda also includes visits to the Zhuzhou Beidou Industrial Park, the Liuyang Qingtai International Fireworks Exhibition Centre, Zoomlion’s smart industrial city and the facilities of the Royal Group Hunan Youshi Dairy Co. Ltd. These visits aim to identify investment opportunities and  knowledge transfer to Timor-Leste. 

Over the last eleven years, Timor-Leste and the Province of Hunan have been consolidating a relationship of cooperation that covers various sectors such as tourism, cultural exchange, education, agriculture and aquaculture. On May 5^th, 2024, the 10th anniversary of the friendship agreement between Manatuto and Hunan was celebrated with the presence of Vice-Governor Zhang Jian Fei in Timor-Leste. As part of this cooperation, the Province of Hunan has contributed agricultural equipment, such as tractors, and educational materials for the schools in Timor-Leste, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development and strengthening bilateral relations. The population of Manatuto has also benefited from the sharing of knowledge and technical experience, with a direct impact on promoting local economic progress. On April 3^rd, Manatuto received three ambulances donated by the province of Hunan.