DILI, 03 July 2026 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão on Friday welcomed Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Lawrence Wong, to the Government Palace in Dili, where the two ASEAN leaders held bilateral talks aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including Timor-Leste’s ASEAN integration, labour mobility, education, healthcare, investment, connectivity and human capital development.
Both prime ministers agreed to elevate bilateral cooperation through several new initiatives, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing bilateral consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministries, expanding the Enhanced Singapore–Timor-Leste ASEAN Readiness Support (e-STARS) programme to further support Timor-Leste’s ASEAN integration, and strengthening cooperation in economic development, education and healthcare.
“Singapore has been a trusted partner and a friend of Timor-Leste. It has supported our people, our institutions and our preparation for ASEAN membership,” Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão said at a joint press conference in Dili after the bilateral meeting.
He added that Timor-Leste looked forward to building on the outcomes of the visit, particularly in ASEAN cooperation, labour mobility, education, healthcare, investment, connectivity and regional affairs.
When asked about future priorities for bilateral cooperation, Gusmão said developing the country’s human resources remained one of Timor-Leste’s greatest national challenges.
“Our main challenge continues to be human resources,” the Prime Minister said. “I cannot say that one area is more important than the others. They all have the same level of importance.”
He added that the agreement signed between the two foreign ministries would provide a framework for expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.
On Singapore’s decision to open parts of its labour market to Timorese citizens, Gusmão described the announcement as a significant milestone.”This is an important announcement made today by the Prime Minister. It represents a very significant development in the relations between our two countries,” he said.
He said the initiative would allow Timorese workers to gain valuable skills and professional experience abroad before returning home to contribute to the country’s development.
Speaking at the joint press conference, Prime Minister Wong said Singapore is privileged to be able to partner Timor-Leste on its nation-building journey.
He said that during his bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Gusmão, they agreed to elevate bilateral cooperation, focusing on key areas. “Prime Minister Gusmão and I discussed how we can take our cooperation to the next level,” he said.
The Prime Minister said Singapore and Timor-Leste will strengthen regular bilateral exchanges through a new consultation mechanism between their foreign ministries. He said the platform will cover bilateral, regional, and strategic issues and improve coordination between both governments.
Wong said Singapore will continue supporting Timor-Leste’s integration into ASEAN. He noted that with membership secured, the focus will shift to full participation and preparation for ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029.
He stressed that both countries will deepen economic cooperation, noting that Singapore is already a major investor in Timor-Leste. He said opportunities are growing in sectors such as trade, renewable energy, and the blue economy, and added that Singapore will open selected sectors and jobs to Timorese workers next year to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties.
Wong added that both sides will invest further in human capital, describing people as the most important asset for small countries. He said cooperation will expand in healthcare and education, including support for Timor-Leste’s teacher training institute to help develop future school leaders.
TATOLI
