DILI, 24 october 2023 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, Jose Ramos Horta, officiated the swearing-in ceremony of Loro Horta as the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the People’s Republic of China, and Marciano Octavio Garcia da Silva as the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Republic of the Philippines. The swearing ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace.
Ambassador Loro Horta, a seasoned diplomat and distinguished scholar hailing from Timor-Leste, boasts a remarkable career having served as Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to Cuba and as a counselor at the Timor-Leste Embassy in Beijing. With over 18 years of academic experience focusing on China, Ambassador Horta holds degrees from prestigious institutions, including the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, the Chinese National Defense University, the US Naval Post Graduate School, the American National Defense University, and Sydney University. His longstanding connection with China spans nearly three decades, dating back to his residence in Macau for a period of three months in 1994.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Marciano Octavio Garcia da Silva has dedicated over two decades of his professional and diplomatic career to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste. His exceptional service includes a pivotal tenure as Director-General for Regional Integration and Pacific Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste from 2010 to 2013. Additionally, Ambassador Da Silva has served as Counsellor of the Embassy of Timor-Leste to the Kingdom of Belgium and to the European Union in Brussels and later assumed the role of Timor-Leste Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Switzerland and Monaco. His distinguished service extended to his role as Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva from 2013 to 2019.
The historical connection between the Island of Timor and China, traced back to the ancient sandalwood trade, precedes the arrival of missionaries and Portuguese explorers in the 19th century.
Ambassador Loro Horta is determined to further fortify the bilateral ties between Timor-Leste and the People’s Republic of China, emphasizing: “The full potential of Sino-Timor relations is far from materialized. My main priority will be attracting Chinese investment to Timor-Leste. We need investments that create jobs. China can offer Timor-Leste immense opportunities. Strong ties with China will reduce our dependence on other nations while broadening our strategic horizons.”
Upon assuming the new role, Ambassador Marciano emphatically said: “I am dedicated to advancing the relationship between Timor-Leste and The Philippines. I will actively pursue potential areas of bilateral cooperation aligned with our national development goals. Ensuring the well-being of Timorese citizens residing in the Philippines is of paramount importance, and fostering people-to-people exchanges will play a crucial role in deepening the ties between our nations. Moreover, I will conscientiously and vigorously champion regional cooperation as we progress towards our accession to ASEAN.”
Ambassador Loro Horta and Ambassador Marciano Octavio Garcia da Silva will formally present their credentials as they commence their respective terms of office in their designated countries.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Filomeno Martins
