DILI, 02 September 2025 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão said Timorese youth are the nation’s most valuable resource, stressing that proper management is essential for sustainable and inclusive development.
He made the statement as keynote speaker at the National Seminar on “The Role of the New Generation in the Context of National Development – Young Leaders: Challenges and Opportunities,” hosted by the Presidency of the Republic at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace.
“The youth of Timor-Leste are the most valuable resource of our nation. And, like all resources, to be effective, they must be well managed in order to contribute to sustainable and inclusive development,” Gusmão told an audience of government leaders, parliament members, church representatives, civil society groups, diplomats, and university students.
The Prime Minister recalled that on August 30, Timor-Leste celebrated the 26th anniversary of the Popular Consultation of 1999, when the people chose independence after 24 years of struggle.
“With respect and gratitude, we remember all those who sacrificed their lives so we could achieve this goal,” he said.
Gusmão stressed that Timor-Leste’s resistance was a collective effort, built on strategies, courage, intelligence, and solidarity.
He credited the support of the Church, NGOs, solidarity groups at home and abroad, and especially the youth, who sustained the Armed, Clandestine, and Diplomatic fronts.
For him, this collective struggle should inspire the new generation, as the history of Timor-Leste “is not of a single hero, but of an entire people united by a common ideal.”
The Prime Minister urged young people to honor this legacy with discipline, dedication, planning, study, and sacrifice, while addressing new challenges such as economic sovereignty, job creation, poverty reduction, and competitiveness in regional and international markets.
He said building a democratic rule of law depends on youth who cultivate critical thinking, resilience, innovation, and creativity.
He also warned that relying only on digital tools, such as Google searches or artificial intelligence, without critical reflection, does not prepare youth to face national challenges.
“It is essential that young people develop analytical skills, independent thinking, and a sense of responsibility so they can become agents of peace, reconciliation, tolerance, dialogue, and mutual respect. I firmly believe that with this path, the new generation can fulfill the aspirations of the Timorese people for a prosperous and developed future, honoring the sacrifices that shaped our history,” Gusmão concluded.
TATOLI
