Timor-Leste President visits Vietnam: strengthening friendly relations, promoting bilateral strategic interests

Vietnam and Timor-Leste have a long-standing friendship as Vietnam was one of the first countries to recognize the Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor-Leste (FRETILIN) (September 1975). The State visit to Vietnam by President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta is an opportunity for the two sides to discuss measures to promote cooperation and deepen bilateral relations.

Vietnam will cooperate closely with Timor-Leste in various fields.

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President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta is paying a State visit to Vietnam (from July 31 to August 3, 2024) at the invitation of President To Lam. This is the second time President Jose Ramos-Horta has visited Vietnam, after his first visit in 2010.

During his visit 14 years ago, President Jose Ramos-Horta emphasized that Timor-Leste's policy is to value and desire to strengthen multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam, especially in the fields of agriculture, energy, oil and gas exploitation and human resource development.

President To Lam presided over the official welcoming ceremony for Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta on a state visit to Vietnam. In the photo, President To Lam and Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta review the honor guard of the Vietnam People's Army on the morning of August 1, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

In an interview with the press about President Jose Ramos-Horta's visit to Vietnam this time, Timor-Leste Ambassador to Vietnam Joao Pereira hopes that the visit will promote the relationship between the two countries in many fields such as: economy, agriculture and information technology, telecommunications...

"Timor-Leste is a country that has only been independent for 25 years, so we really want to learn a lot from Vietnam. Vietnam is now one of the most developed economies in the region," Ambassador Joao Pereira explained.

Vietnam and Timor-Leste have a long-standing friendship. Vietnam was one of the first countries to recognize the Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor-Leste (FRETILIN) (September 1975). The two countries established diplomatic relations on July 28, 2002. Since then, the relationship between the two countries has developed positively on the basis of traditional friendship. The two sides maintain delegation exchanges at all levels and high-level contacts, especially on the occasion of ASEAN conferences. Thereby, the two sides discuss and propose cooperation orientations in many fields.

Regarding trade, bilateral trade turnover between the two countries is still limited, mainly Vietnam exports rice and textiles to Timor Leste. In 2023, Vietnam's exports to Timor Leste reached 15.49 million USD; imports from Timor Leste reached 371,000 USD. In the first 5 months of this year, exports to Timor Leste reached 6.09 million USD, up 29.4% over the same period.

Regarding investment, the Vietnam Military Telecommunications Group (Viettel) currently has an investment project to provide telecommunications services in Timor-Leste (under the name Telemor, established on August 22, 2012, officially providing services from July 10, 2013), with an initial investment capital of 500,000 USD, which gradually increased to 10 million USD. After 10 years of development, Telemor has contributed to changing the telecommunications industry in Timor-Leste, contributing to the development of this country.

Regarding education, in 2014, the Deputy Minister of Education of Timor-Leste visited Vietnam to learn about Vietnam's new school model. During the visit to Timor-Leste by Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan (2015), the two countries' Ministries of Education agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to create a basis for enhancing cooperation activities between the two countries. Currently, there are about 40 Timor-Leste students studying in Vietnam, mostly at Thai Nguyen University (39 students) and at Hanoi National University (1 student).

In multilateral cooperation, the two countries continue to strengthen cooperation and coordinate their positions at regional and international forums and organizations. Timor Leste supports Vietnam's candidacy for international organizations, including the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, the World Heritage Committee for the 2023-2027 term, and the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2022-2026 term.

President To Lam held talks with Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta on the morning of August 1, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

Timor Leste is in the process of joining ASEAN and was approved in principle to become the 11th member of the Association in November 2022. Stemming from the tradition of friendship between the two countries, Vietnam has always strongly supported Timor Leste's efforts to join ASEAN. In coordinating to support Timor Leste to become an ASEAN member, Vietnam focuses on the field of training and capacity building of officials, helping Timor Leste build a strong human resource foundation, promote sustainable development, and integrate into the region and the world. On that basis, Vietnam continues to work with member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat to support Timor Leste in preparing and enhancing capacity, creating favorable conditions for Timor Leste to officially join the Association.

Speaking to the press, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Ta Van Thong said: The official visit of the President of Timor Leste to Vietnam is not only an opportunity to strengthen the friendly relationship, but also an occasion to show support and close cooperation between the two countries. This is also an opportunity for the two countries to consider cooperation activities, negotiate and exchange experiences in the fields of economics, education, agriculture and fisheries.

"Therefore, the official visit of the President of Timor Leste to Vietnam this time will bring many strategic benefits to both countries, contributing to strengthening and developing the strategic partnership between the two countries in the coming time," said Ambassador Ta Van Thong.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/tong-thong-timor-leste-tham-viet-nam-cung-co-quan-he-huu-nghi-thuc-day-loi-ich-chien-luoc-song-phuong-202949.html