DILI, 12 March 2026 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, in his capacity as President of the Council of Ministers of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), officially opened the 51st Meeting of the Focal Points Cooperation of CPLP at the Headquarters of CPL in Lisbon.
This ceremony was attended by the Executive Secretary of the CPLP, Ambassador Maria de Fátima Jardim, representatives of the CPLP Member States and the focal points.
In his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, in his capacity as President of the Council of Ministers of the CPLP, highlighted the importance of cooperation as a more dynamic pillar in the community, with a direct impact on the development of Member States and the entire population.
He (the Minister) also stressed the importance of the role of multilateralism, dialogue and strengthening cooperation between member states, highlighting Timor-Leste’s commitment to strengthening cooperation between communities.
The cooperation between communities is a dynamic pillar that will impact the lives of the population through the common program and activity of the Portuguese-speaking community, with prominent and recognized visibility.
Projects such as the Network of Public Higher Education Institutions (NPHEI), which has been part of the activities since 2012; the Network of Public Health Institutes, within the scope of the Strategic Cooperation Plan in Health since 2009; the ongoing project to expand the capacity of the CPLP Civil Engineering Laboratory, since 2019; and, with significant funding, the CPLP Audiovisual Program, which is already in its 3rd edition and has been part of the community’s agenda since 2008, remaining ongoing.
This Government Official hopes that the ongoing debate of the Cooperation Focal Points regarding the evaluation of cooperation carried out over the last 30 years will result in contributions that will be integrated into the proposal for the Organization’s Strategic Vision for the period 2027-2033.
Furthermore, on the thirtieth anniversary of the Community, to be celebrated in July of this year, Timor-Leste will fully integrate into the region with its accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This opportunity aims to further strengthen ties between the Portuguese and Asian communities and consolidate the presence of the CPLP in the Southeast Asian region.
However, the 51st meeting of the CPLP Cooperation Focal Points will be held between March 12 and 13 at the organization’s headquarters, to be chaired by the National Director of Timor-Leste to the CPLP, Joaquim Fernandes, as President of the CPLP.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
