DILI, 02 august 2024 (TATOLI) – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Do Hung Viet, have signed an agreement on the application of visa exemptions for work and diplomatic passports between Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
Witnessing the signing of the agreement, President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta and his counterpart President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, To Lam, after the bilateral meeting at the Presidential Palace.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito Freitas said, Timor-Leste and Vietnam have celebrated an agreement on visa exemption for work and diplomatic passports, as a principle of Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN, therefore, has been agreed by ASEAN member states, while the ordinary passport is still under discussion.
In addition, during the meeting, the Heads of State of the two countries also discussed the mechanism of values and principles of cooperation that Vietnam can help Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN, and congratulated Timor-Leste its membership of the World Trade Organization.
President Ramos-Horta also asked the Government of Vietnam to open a Vietnamese embassy in Timor-Leste, because Timor-Leste has opened an embassy in ASEAN countries, so as to further strengthen bilateral relations with Vietnam and ASEAN member countries.
Meanwhile, Head of State, José Ramos-Horta was also accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Coordinator of Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito Freitas, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Marcos da Cruz, Secretary of State for Social Communications, Expedito Dias Ximenes, Chief of Staff General of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Falur Rate Laek, Retired Lieutenant General Lere Anan Timur and others.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
editor: Filomeno Martins
