DILI, 18 december 2023 (TATOLI) – Japan and Timor-Leste agree to conduct the “Comprehensive Partnership towards Sustainable Growth and Development” This agreement was agreed upon by KISHIDA FUMIO, Prime Minister of Japan, and Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, who visited Japan from december 15th to december 19th, 2023, for the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, held a summit meeting on December 16th, and had a fruitful exchange of views both on the relationship between Japan and Timor-Leste and regional and international cooperation.
“Building upon more than 20 years of friendly and cooperative relations, including Japan’s contribution to Timor-Leste’s development as a peaceful and democratic nation, both leaders expressed their willingness to further promote the bilateral relationship by elevating it from the “Advanced Partnership towards Growth and Prosperity” to the “Comprehensive Partnership towards Sustainable Growth and Development,” the Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste Kimura Tetsuya, told reporters in his office in Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili, on monday.
Kimura Testuya explained that both leaders reaffirmed that the two countries share fundamental values and principles such as freedom, democracy, human rights and dignity, and the rule of law, which constitute a significant foundation of their bilateral relations. Both leaders stressed their strong commitment to global peace and a free and open international order based on the rule of law. In this context, both leaders expressed their commitment to further promote dialogue at various levels and concrete cooperation in a wide range of areas.
Prime Minister Kishida commended Timor-Leste’s steady efforts in its national development since the restoration of independence in 2002. Given that Timor-Leste has been granted observer status and admitted in principle to be the 11th member of ASEAN at the ASEAN Summit Meeting in 2022, Prime Minister Kishida reiterated Japan’s support for Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN and its commitment to assisting Timor-Leste to this end.
In that meeting, both leaders also expressed their commitment to strengthening dialogue between the two countries in all areas and at all levels, including through mutual visits.
“Both leaders shared the view that the two countries would advance cooperation in the maritime field, including maritime safety and security, as an important pillar of bilateral cooperation, in particular through the dispatch of experts and the provision of associated equipment such as rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs). Prime Minister Kishida commended Timor-Leste’s commitment to the peacebuilding of fragile and conflict-affected states in the framework of G7+,’’ he said.
In this opportunity, Prime Minister Gusmão expressed his appreciation for Japan’s assistance to these efforts in areas such as infrastructure development, economic diversification, social service delivery, and capacity building, including human resource development.
Prime Minister Gusmão expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support and assistance. Both leaders resolved to further strengthen cooperation in addressing regional and international challenges, including by supporting the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which shares relevant fundamental principles for promoting peace and cooperation with Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision.
Prime Minister Gusmão also expressed his appreciation for the Japan Self-Defense Forces’ (JSDF) contribution to previous humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capacity building and more recent maritime security and engineering cooperation, including its participation in the Exercise HARI’I HAMUTUK hosted by the Australian Defense Force.
The Timorese’s Head of Government also appreciated Japan’s acceptance of personnel of the Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL) into its defense educational institutes.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
