Bendito Freitas - Ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros e Cooperação

𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐗𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐬𝐦𝐚̃𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐢, 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚.

𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐢, 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚 | 𝟏𝟓 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — His Excellency Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the Republic of Indonesia, received His Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister, and His Excellency Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, First Deputy Prime Minister, during their transit in Bali en route to Kazan, Russian Federation.

The delegation is traveling to attend the Russia–ASEAN Commemorative Summit and Partnership Anniversary in Kazan.

During the meeting, Ambassador Soares briefed the Prime Minister on the current status of Timor-Leste–Indonesia bilateral relations. Ambassador also sought guidance on priority areas to further strengthen cooperation between the two nations on matters of mutual interest.

H.E Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and the delegation departed Bali at 21:45 on Turkish Airlines, with transit and a connecting flight via Istanbul, bound for Kazan.

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐫-𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐣𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍–𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭

𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐣𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝟏𝟒–𝟏𝟓 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — H.E. 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, arrived in Beijing on 14 June en route to Kazan, Russian Federation, to participate in the 35th ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit.

Upon arrival, Minister Bendito and his delegation were received by H.E. Loro Horta, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to China, and Ms. Jiang Ying, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During a transit stop in Beijing, Minister Bendito held a working meeting with Ambassador Loro and Embassy staff to review the progress of Timor-Leste–China relations, discuss key priorities and opportunities, and provide strategic guidance to further advance bilateral cooperation.

The meeting underscored Timor-Leste’s commitment to further strengthening its comprehensive strategic partnership with China through consistent and disciplined implementation of the signed agreements, and enhancing the effectiveness of its diplomatic engagement in the region.

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐗𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨̂ 𝐋𝐚̂𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐫-𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞–𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐢, 𝟏𝟎 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — H.E. 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, accompanied H.E. 𝐊𝐚𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐗𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐬𝐦𝐚̃𝐨, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, in a bilateral meeting with H.E. 𝐓𝐨̂ 𝐋𝐚̂𝐦, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and State President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, during the Prime Minister’s Official Visit to Viet Nam.

The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding friendship, solidarity, and growing strategic partnership between Timor-Leste and Viet Nam. Prime Minister Xanana expressed appreciation for Viet Nam’s steadfast support for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN accession and welcomed the continued assistance of Viet Nam in supporting Timor-Leste’s effective participation in ASEAN and preparations for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029. He also congratulated General Secretary and President Tô Lâm on his recent election and commended Viet Nam’s remarkable achievements in national development, economic transformation, and regional integration.

General Secretary and President Tô Lâm reaffirmed Viet Nam’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Timor-Leste and identified key areas for enhanced collaboration, including political exchanges, defence and security, food and energy security, trade and investment, digital transformation, education, tourism, and human resource development. He underscored Viet Nam’s readiness to share its experience in governance, socio-economic development, poverty reduction, and regional integration, while encouraging greater Vietnamese investment in Timor-Leste.

Both leaders welcomed the outcomes of the official talks between Prime Minister Xanana and Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng and emphasized the importance of effectively implementing the agreements signed during the visit, including the Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Ordinary Passports, cooperation initiatives in education and capacity-building and media. Both leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination within ASEAN, the United Nations, and other multilateral forums, while upholding international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

Prime Minister Xanana was also accompanied by Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Francisco Kalbuady Lay; Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs Mariano Assanami Sabino; Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares; Minister of Trade and Industry Filipus Nino Pereira; Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Rangel; Secretary of State for Social Communication Expedito Ximenes; and Chief of Cabinet of the Prime Minister Elisabeth Exposto.

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐗𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐬𝐦𝐚̃𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐔𝐊 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨-𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐢

𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐢, 𝟗 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — H.E. 𝐊𝐚𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐗𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐬𝐦𝐚̃𝐨, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, held a bilateral meeting with H.E. 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐏, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for the Indo-Pacific of the United Kingdom, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi.

Prime Minister Xanana was accompanied by H.E. Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, H.E. Milena Maria da Costa Rangel, Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, and Chief of Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Ms. Elisabeth Exposto.

The meeting reviewed the positive progress in Timor-Leste–United Kingdom relations and explored opportunities to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Discussions focused on Timor-Leste’s ASEAN integration process, preparations for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029, and potential UK support in key priority areas such as institutional capacity-building, human resource development, and regional economic integration.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global developments, reaffirming their shared commitment to a rules-based international order, respect for international law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the principles of freedom of navigation and overflight.

The meeting underscored the common commitment of both countries to advancing bilateral cooperation and contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐫-𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐦 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐢, 𝟗 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — H.E. 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, accompanied H.E. 𝐊𝐚𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐗𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐬𝐦𝐚̃𝐨, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, during a courtesy meeting with H.E. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐧, Chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, in Hanoi.

The meeting formed part of Prime Minister Xanana’s Official Visit to Viet Nam and reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and growing strategic partnership between the two countries.

Prime Minister Xanana expressed Timor-Leste’s deep appreciation for Viet Nam’s unwavering support throughout its national development journey, institution-building efforts, and integration into ASEAN. He highlighted Timor-Leste’s interest in learning from Viet Nam’s successful experience in legislative development, strategic planning, economic transformation, and regional cooperation, while emphasizing the important role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Chairman Tran Thanh Man congratulated Timor-Leste on becoming ASEAN’s 11th Member State and reaffirmed Viet Nam’s continued support for Timor-Leste’s active participation in ASEAN cooperation mechanisms. He welcomed the recent agreements signed during Prime Minister Xanana’s visit, including the visa exemption agreement for holders of ordinary passports, and underscored the Vietnamese National Assembly’s readiness to facilitate the implementation of bilateral agreements and support deeper cooperation across trade, investment, agriculture, education, digital transformation, and human resource development.

Both sides underscored the importance of enhancing exchanges between their respective legislative institutions, including parliamentary committees and lawmakers, as well as strengthening cooperation within regional and international parliamentary forums, particularly the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). The meeting reflected the shared commitment of Timor-Leste and Viet Nam to advancing a comprehensive and forward-looking partnership that contributes to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

Prime Minister Xanana was also accompanied by Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Francisco Kalbuady Lay; Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs Mariano Assanami Sabino; Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares; Minister of Trade and Industry Filipus Nino Pereira; Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Rangel; Secretary of State for Social Communication Expedito Ximenes; and Chief of Cabinet of the Prime Minister Elisabeth Exposto.

𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐫-𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐦 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐢, 𝟗 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — H.E. . 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, accompanied H.E. 𝐊𝐚𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐗𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐬𝐦𝐚̃𝐨, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, during the official welcome ceremony and bilateral meeting hosted by H.E. 𝐋𝐞̂ 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐡 𝐇𝐮̛𝐧𝐠, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, in Hanoi.

Held following Prime Minister Xanana’s participation in the 3rd ASEAN Future Forum, the meeting underscored the enduring friendship, mutual trust, and steadily expanding partnership between Timor-Leste and Viet Nam. The two leaders held comprehensive discussions on the current state of bilateral relations and explored opportunities to deepen cooperation across a broad range of sectors, including trade and investment, agriculture and fisheries, education and human capital development, tourism, infrastructure, telecommunications, digital transformation, food and energy security.

Prime Minister Xanana expressed Timor-Leste’s sincere appreciation for Viet Nam’s consistent support throughout Timor-Leste’s journey towards ASEAN membership and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening economic ties and expanding people-to-people exchanges as both countries work together to contribute to a stronger and more resilient ASEAN Community.

Following the bilateral talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the exchange of several important cooperation instruments that mark a new chapter in Timor-Leste–Viet Nam relations. These included the Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Ordinary Passports, signed by H.E. Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, and H.E. Lê Hoài Trung, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam; Memoranda of Understanding on Higher Education and Educational Cooperation; and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and TATOLI.

The leaders welcomed the signing of these agreements as tangible outcomes that will facilitate greater mobility, strengthen educational and institutional partnerships, promote exchanges between the peoples of both countries, and enhance cooperation in strategic sectors. They further agreed to intensify high-level exchanges, strengthen political consultations, expand economic engagement, and accelerate the implementation of existing bilateral commitments, including preparations for the inaugural meeting of the Timor-Leste–Viet Nam Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation.

The discussions reflected the shared determination of Timor-Leste and Viet Nam to deepen bilateral cooperation, advance ASEAN Community-building efforts, and contribute to regional peace, stability, prosperity, and sustainable development.

Prime Minister Xanana was also accompanied by Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Francisco Kalbuady Lay; Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs Mariano Assanami Sabino; Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares; Minister of Trade and Industry Filipus Nino Pereira; Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Rangel; Secretary of State for Social Communication Expedito Ximenes; and Chief of Cabinet of the Prime Minister Elisabeth Exposto.

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐗𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞-𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐈, 𝟗 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — H.E. 𝐊𝐚𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐗𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐬𝐦𝐚̃𝐨, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, participated and delivered keynote remarks at the Opening Session of the 2026 𝑨𝑺𝑬𝑨𝑵 𝑭𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒖𝒎 in Hanoi, Viet Nam, joining regional leaders including the Prime Ministers of Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, as well as the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.

Addressing the Forum under the theme “Shaping Our Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, People-Centred,” Prime Minister Xanana highlighted the significance of Timor-Leste’s participation as a full member of the ASEAN family for the first time. He underscored the importance of upholding international law, strengthening multilateral cooperation, and preserving ASEAN’s role as a model of dialogue, consensus and peaceful coexistence amid growing global uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.

The Prime Minister also called on ASEAN to take a proactive role in addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, emphasizing the need for regional frameworks that promote digital governance, safeguard human dignity, and ensure that technological progress benefits all people.

Prime Minister Xanana reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s commitment to contributing actively to ASEAN’s future, noting that the region’s strength lies in solidarity, mutual respect and a shared vision of peace, prosperity and sustainable development.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Francisco Kalbuady Lay, Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs Mariano Assanami Sabino, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Education Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Trade and Industry Filipus Nino Pereira, Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Rangel, Secretary of State for Social Communication Expedito Ximenes, and Chief of Cabinet of the Prime Minister Elisabeth Exposto.

The ASEAN Future Forum serves as a strategic platform for leaders, policymakers, scholars and partners to exchange perspectives on the future direction of ASEAN and the region’s collective response to emerging global challenges. As ASEAN’s newest member, Timor-Leste remains committed to working closely with fellow Member States to build a peaceful, resilient and people-centred Southeast Asia.