DILI, 18 january 2024 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, Jose Ramos Horta, on thursday, met with the Japanese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Tetsuya Kimura, to discuss strengthening development cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Kimura expressed Japan’s solidarity with Timor-Leste following the recent devastating earthquake in Japan. He thanked President Ramos-Horta for Timor-Leste’s support during this difficult time.
The meeting offered Ambassador Kimura the opportunity to brief President Ramos-Horta about bilateral ties ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit to Japan in december 2024 for the Japan-ASEAN Special Summit.
There are three priority areas for cooperation between Timor-Leste and Japan after the summit:
First, Japan will continue supporting Timor-Leste’s efforts to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). A new project will soon begin involving the training for government officials at the ASEAN Secretariat in Indonesia, coordinated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA).
Second, Japan intends to strengthen development cooperation with Timor-Leste, building on current infrastructure projects and expanding into new areas like maritime security. There are also plans to encourage further Japanese private sector investment in Timor-Leste’s gas and oil industries.
Third, people-to-people exchanges will be enhanced, with a goal of increasing exchanges between the Japanese and Timorese people over the next decade.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
