DILI, 27 June 2025 (TATOLI) — President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, opened the 4th Conference of the Asian Portuguese Communities in Dili today with a stirring address that honored the region’s enduring Lusophone heritage and called for renewed solidarity among Portuguese-descendant communities across Asia.
Welcoming participants from across the region — including Macau, Malacca, Goa, Bangkok, Myanmar, Flores, Sri Lanka, and Jakarta — President Ramos-Horta described the event as more than a conference, but a reunion of family bound by a shared language, history, and cultural inheritance.
“This Conference is more than a gathering. We are bringing a family together,” Horta said at the Dili Convention Center, today. “It is a moment to reflect on our shared history, to strengthen our bonds of solidarity and to tell our stories, with pride and with honesty, as we look together towards a future built on friendship, respect and renewal.”
Tracing the historical origins of Portuguese influence in Asia, Horta reflected on the maritime journeys of the 16th century that carried not just trade and religion, but also new languages, systems of governance, and the idea of nationhood. He credited this heritage with introducing the foundations of the modern state to Timor-Leste and helping forge the national identity that sustained the Timorese struggle for independence. “The Portuguese left a mark on Asia that time has not erased,” he said.
“Today, we speak of national sovereignty and independence as if they were eternal truths — but they are, in fact, the legacy of an idea carried by history and transformed by struggle,” said Horta.
The President emphasized that Lusophone ties in Asia extended beyond Portugal itself. He spoke of historic connections linking Portuguese-administered territories across the region — from Goa to Macau, from Flores to Sri Lanka — and the unifying role played by the Catholic Church in maintaining language, education, and cultural memory.
“In our time of resistance, the Church stood with us. It offered sanctuary and gave meaning to our suffering. In moments of despair, it held out hope. For many Timorese — and for many across our Lusophone communities in Asia — the Church was not just a spiritual refuge but a guardian of culture, memory and moral clarity,” Horta explained. “These shared histories are not just to be remembered. They shape who we are today,” he said.
Despite their historical significance, Portuguese-descendant communities across Asia remain largely absent from national narratives and histories, he noted. Their stories, traditions, and contributions are often overlooked, even as they have endured centuries of upheaval — from colonialism to migration and conflict.
President Ramos-Horta said the conference provided a space to reflect on the past and celebrate the rich and diverse heritage of participants from across Asia: “But just as importantly, it gives you the chance to shape how the next chapter of this long story will be written.”
Ramos-Horta announced the launch of the Asian Portuguese Communities Association (APCA), an initiative to protect and promote Lusophone heritage in Asia. The Association will serve as a platform for advocacy, education, cultural preservation, and community development, while also supporting efforts such as the documentation of oral histories, promotion of cultural festivals, and sustainable development projects. “That is why this Conference will discuss the proposed Dili Declaration. And that is why we are taking the historic step of establishing the Asian Portuguese Communities Association — APCA,” he said.
“This Association will be more than a network of people and communities. It is a promise and a commitment to preserve, to record and to empower. To recognise the value of communities that are often marginalised or overlooked,” Horta stressed.
The APCA will give voice to Asian Portuguese communities in conversations with governments and international institutions. It will support research, education and economic sustainability. It will help protect the histories and identities of people whose cultures are mixed, complex and proud.
“The goal is not only to honour the past — but to make that past a platform for renewal. This will include documenting oral histories, supporting cultural festivals and strengthening community-led development,” said the Head of State. “It will ensure that the contribution of Portuguese-descendant communities — in Malaysia, in Myanmar, in Sri Lanka, in Thailand, in India and in Indonesia — is recognised as part of the great Asian story.”
As Timor-Leste prepares for ASEAN accession, Ramos-Horta underscored the country’s unique role as the only Portuguese-speaking nation in Asia, positioned to bridge cultures and foster regional solidarity.
“We are proud to host this Conference. We do so not only to honour the past but to shape the future. And we do so because we believe that in this community, we are not alone,” said Horta.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
