DÍLI, 17 July 2026 (TATOLI) — Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão on Thursday met Brunei Darussalam’s newly appointed ambassador to Timor-Leste, Khairur Rizal Abd Majid, to reaffirm the two countries’ longstanding friendship and discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation.
During the meeting at the Government Palace in Dili, Gusmão thanked Brunei for its continued support and friendship, particularly its backing of Timor-Leste’s integration into ASEAN.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening relations with Brunei and expanding cooperation in areas of shared interest.
The discussions also focused on strengthening diplomatic ties and identifying new opportunities for bilateral cooperation that would bring mutual benefits to both countries.
Timor-Leste and Brunei established diplomatic relations on May 20, 2002, and have steadily expanded cooperation over the past two decades. Brunei has been one of Timor-Leste’s strongest supporters in its ASEAN accession process and continues to back the country’s preparations to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2029.
The two energy-producing nations also share common priorities in natural resource management and economic diversification. In May 2026, they signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism, alongside cooperation agreements in the energy and health sectors.
Khairur Rizal officially assumed his role as Brunei’s ambassador to Timor-Leste after presenting his credentials to President José Ramos-Horta on June 12, 2026.
TATOLI
