Chinese President Xi Jinpingon Saturday exchanged congratulatory messages with his Timor-Leste counterpart, Francisco Guterres Lu-Olo, on the 15th anniversary of Timor-Leste's restoration of independence and the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Xi said in his message that China and Timor-Leste are friendly neighbors and have witnessed deepening political mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation thanks to the two sides' efforts.

In 2014, the two countries established a comprehensive cooperative partnership featuring good-neighborly and friendly relations, mutual trust and mutual benefits, which is a paradigm of relations of equal treatment and win-win cooperation between big and small countries, he noted.

The Chinese president said he attaches great importance to the development of relations between China and Timor-Leste and is ready to work with Lu-Olo to push forward bilateral ties to benefit the two peoples.

In his message, Lu-Olo said his country and China have expanded their relations in all areas and at all levels in the past 15 years.

He reiterated his readiness to lift the bilateral relations to a new stage, saying he believes that the two countries, sharing common visions and goals in promoting peace and stability, will become partners in making these goals come true.