DILI, 06 May 2026 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s Minister for Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Nelyo Isaac Sarmento, took part in the 2026 Southeast Asia Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports held in Bali from May 3 to 5, where regional leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in youth development and sports diplomacy.
The meeting, organised by Indonesia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, brought together ministers and government representatives from Southeast Asian countries under the theme “Strengthening Youth Collaboration in Southeast Asia and Sports Diplomacy for a Resilient Future.”
Participants discussed regional cooperation on youth empowerment, sports diplomacy, talent development, the professionalisation of sports ecosystems and the strengthening of high-performance sports systems.
During the plenary session, Timor-Leste reaffirmed its commitment to working with countries in the region to develop the capacities of young people and strengthen the national sports sector to improve participation and competitiveness at regional and international levels.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Bali Declaration, a joint document committing participating countries to deepen regional cooperation in youth and sports, promote peace and regional solidarity through sport and support sustainable development and social inclusion.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Sarmento met Indonesia’s minister Erick Thohir to discuss opportunities for bilateral cooperation in sports.
The two ministers discussed the development of pencak silat, the Indonesian martial art that has a strong presence in Timor-Leste, as well as possible cooperation in the sports industry and technical support for the development of Timorese athletes.
TATOLI
