DILI, 24 June 2026 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the institutionalisation of Senior Officials’ Talks (SOTs) between Timor-Leste and Australia.
The signing marks an important milestone in implementing the “Parseria Foun ba Era Foun” (New Partnership for a New Era), launched by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the Australian Prime Minister’s official visit to Timor-Leste in January 2026. In accordance with the Joint Declaration, both foreign ministers were tasked with coordinating the formulation of a Joint Plan of Action and reviewing its implementation through annual Senior Officials’ Talks.
The MoU establishes a structured mechanism to advance bilateral cooperation, strengthen institutional linkages, and promote practical outcomes across political, economic, security, and people-to-people cooperation.
Following the signing ceremony, Minister Bendito and Foreign Minister Penny Wong held a bilateral breakfast meeting to review progress in implementing the New Partnership for a New Era, discuss priorities for the Joint Plan of Action, and explore opportunities to further deepen cooperation in ASEAN integration, economic development, labour mobility, education, regional security, and sustainable development.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Timor-Leste and Australia to building a stronger, forward-looking partnership that contributes to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
TATOLI
