DILI, 10 july 2024 (TATOLI) – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas and his Angolan Counterpart, Téte António, have signed a visa-free agreement for holders of official and diplomatic passports between Timor-Leste and Angola.
The agreement was signed after the bilateral meeting between the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, and his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, who also witnessed the signing of the agreement, at the Presidential Palace in Luandu, on monday.
“The application of visa exemption for diplomatic passport and service passport holders is very important, as it can better facilitate the movement between Timor-Leste and Angola diplomatic officials, in order to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the future,” said in a statement.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito Freitas and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Angola, Téte António also signed a memorandum of understanding to establish cooperation in the area of diplomatic policy consultation including a cooperation agreement between the Diplomatic Academy “Venâncio de Moura” Angola and the Center for Diplomatic Studies of Timor-Leste.
President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço said, that although Angola has not established an embassy in Dili, the delegation of the two countries is working and the fact shows, that Timor-Leste and Angola managed to sign these three important instruments of cooperation, through President Horta’s state visit in Angola.
Horta said the signing of the visa exemption agreement for service and diplomatic passport holders is an exceptional and exemplary relationship of personal diplomatic policy plan with all CPLP member countries, especially with the Republic of Angola.
Thus, with this visa exemption agreement, once Timor-Leste has joined ASEAN, Timor-Leste can become a warehouse for the redistribution of products from PALOP and CPLP member countries into the ASEAN regional market.
In addition, during the meeting, President Horta extended an invitation to the Head of State, João Lourenço, to visit Timor-Leste as an act of principle of reciprocity to further strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
