DILI, 07 August 2025 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, Jose Ramos-Horta, met today with the former Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Hermenegildo Lopes, to receive the final report on the conclusion of his successful diplomatic term.
The Head of State expressed his profound gratitude for Ambassador Lopes’s dedicated service, particularly praising his crucial role in advancing Timor-Leste’s accession process to ASEAN.
Ramos-Horta underlined that Cambodia’s support during its 2022 ASEAN chairmanship was instrumental in securing Timor-Leste’s official status as the 11th member of the regional bloc.
Recognizing the diplomat’s valuable experience and deep regional connections, the President requested Ambassador Lopes to continue serving the nation as an Ambassador-at-Large. In this new role, he will focus on strengthening economic and business-to-business relations, with a special emphasis on learning from Cambodia’s successful Special Economic Zones model, in order to attract investment and create vital employment opportunities for Timorese youth.
The President reiterated that the dedicated work of diplomats like Ambassador Lopes is essential for national progress. He further stressed that these efforts have paved the way for the final steps towards full and permanent ASEAN membership – a central strategic objective to ensure Timor-Leste’s economic future and consolidate its integration into the regional community.
TATOLI
