DILI, 23 january 2025 (TATOLI) – Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and the UK Minister of State for Indo-Pacific Catherine West, on thursday, discussed enhancing cooperation in various fields.
During the meeting, the two touched on strengthening cooperation in climate change, economic development, and geopolitics.
“We have been working on the issue of importance to the Indo-Pacific region, including climate change, economic development, and geopolitics,” Minister West told reporters, in Dili, today.
The two also touched on Timor-Leste’s various preparations for the final moment of its accession to ASEAN, which the UK remains committed to supporting Timor-Leste’s efforts in striving for ASEAN full membership.
West pledged to support Timor-Leste’s economic development to help the country achieve its goal of becoming a prosperous country in the region.
She said that Timor-Leste is a country that matters so much to the UK: “We remain committed to supporting Timor-Leste to continue to developing as a stable and prosperous nation.”
Timor-Leste and the UK have long been great friends and UK has become home to the largest Timorese community in any other overseas diaspora.
On behalf of the Timorese people, Prime Minister Gusmão thanked Minister West for her visit, saying that the UK’s support for Timor-Leste is immense, as more than 30,000 Timorese migrant workers currently live and work in the UK, contributing around US$30 million in remittances every year to Timor-Leste.
Gusmão also thanked the UK for its continued support for Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN, which is expected to happen this year.
TATOLI
