A Chinese flotilla on Wednesday completed the first official visit to Timor-Leste of the People's Liberation Army Navy and set sail for Jakarta.
The task force, which is en route a global voyage after an escort mission in the Gulf of Aden, comprises a destroyer, a frigate and a supply ship. Dili is the 13th stop of the voyage.
After arrival in Dili, capital of the southeast Asian country, last Friday, the task force had held a public reception for local people to have a tour on board the Chinese naval warships. Chinese Navy officers and soldiers have gone to a local school to provide volunteer health exams for the students.
The task force commodore Wang Jianxun and his aids met defense minister and commander of Timor-Leste's Defense Force. Senior Timor-Leste officials, including the former president, also visited the Chinese warships.
Commodore Wang said that the Chinese task force had been warmly welcomed in Timor-Leste, feeling sincere and profound friendship between the two countries.
China's Ambassador to Timor-Leste Liu Hongyang told Xinhua that the naval task force's visit will be a milestone in the development of bilateral relations and start a phase for military-to-military cooperation of the two countries.
According to the task force's plan, they will visit Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, for the next stop of their global voyage.
