DILI, 05 october 2025 (TATOLI) – On wednesday (04/10), the Australian Chargé d’Affaires, Caitlin Wilson, hosted several Ministers, including Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito Freitas, Vice Minister of Finance, Felicia Claudinanda da Cruz Carvalho, Secretary of Estate for Equality, Elvina de Sousa Carvalho and other distinguished guests from Timor-Leste’s development network to introduce Australia’s new International Development Policy.
Wilson said that as a close neighbor and friend, Australia is committed to partnering to support Timor-Leste’s future prosperity, stability, and peace: “The policy makes clear Australia’s commitment to a high-quality development program that contributes to these shared objectives.”
Australia is also committed to a development program that makes a real difference in addressing Timor-Leste’s priorities in the context of today’s global challenges.
“The new policy is an opportunity for Australia and Timor-Leste to review and adapt our development partnership to be more responsive, we will continue to strengthen the partnership based on respect, listening, and learning,” said Wilson.
“The directions outlined in the new International Development Policy are clearly aligned with country-owned and country-led development approaches.”
Australia has been at the forefront of international support for Timor-Leste since independence in 2002 and remains Timor-Leste’s largest development partner.
Minister Freitas said in a statement that: “Australia is an important partner for Timor-Leste, a very historic partner.”
“The introduction of Australia’s new international development policy is very important because it strengthens our commitment to developing and improving services that can support international development, as a factor for the development of the economy and the country as a whole overall in various areas needed,” said Freitas.
Freitas considered the introduction of Australia’s new international development policy to be very important in reaffirming both countries’ commitment to national development: “Timor-Leste adopted a foreign policy that has neither allies nor enemies and only friends.”
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
