DILI, 27 March 2026 (TATOLI) – Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, met with Michelle Chan, the Deputy Secretary for South and Southeast Asia at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), in Dili as part of her official visit to Timor-Leste from March 25th to 27th.
The meeting is part of the bilateral relations between Timor-Leste and Australia and aims to monitor the implementation of the “Partnership for a New Era,” agreed upon by the respective heads of government in January 2026.
During the meeting, the discussion centred on Timor-Leste’s objectives as the newest member state of ASEAN, including preparations for its 2029 chairmanship of the organisation.
Australia reaffirmed its commitment to support Timor-Leste’s integration into ASEAN, including providing assistance and technical support in key areas, especially cybersecurity.
Minister Agio Pereira addressed the challenges involved in organising the ASEAN Chairmanship, including infrastructure, logistics, human resources, and institutional coordination, and emphasised the importance of involving the private sector in this process. He also mentioned ongoing work in cybersecurity, including the development of a legislative framework and the strengthening of institutional capacity.
The meeting also included a discussion of the regional and international situation, as well as economic and energy matters affecting both countries.
Also attending the meeting were Caitlin Wilson, the Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, along with other representatives from the Australian Embassy in Dili.
The meeting ended with both sides reaffirming their dedication to further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
TATOLI
