DILI, 04 May 2026 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão arrived in Brunei Darussalam on Saturday (03/05) for a three-day visit. The Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by Brunei’s Crown Prince His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah.
Gusmão was accorded an official welcoming ceremony, reflecting the close and longstanding friendship between Timor-Leste and Brunei.
The ceremony began with the national anthems of both countries, followed by an inspection of a Guard of Honour mounted by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
Vice Prime Minister and Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Vice Prime Minister, Minister Coordinator for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing Mariano Assanami Sabino, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Health Elia, A. A. dos Reis Amaral, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro, Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel, Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes, Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to Brunei Abel Guterres, and the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister’s office, Elizabeth Exposto accompanied the Prime Minister throughout the visit.
This official visit marked an important milestone in advancing strategic cooperation between Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam, particularly in areas of mutual interest such as energy, health, and institutional partnership, while reinforcing Timor-Leste’s active engagement in the ASEAN region.
This visit also represented the Prime Minister’s third official visit to Brunei Darussalam, following previous visits in 2014 and 2017, reaffirming the longstanding ties and shared commitment to deepening cooperation between the two nations.
TATOLI
