During a meeting on the morning of 10/6, General Secretary and President To Lam highly appreciated Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao's visit, affirming Vietnam always values and seeks to strengthen friendly, multifaceted cooperation with Timor-Leste.

The General Secretary and President affirmed Vietnam will continue to accompany and support Timor-Leste's full and effective integration into ASEAN's cooperation mechanisms and programs, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Timor-Leste is the 11th member of ASEAN, admitted in 10/2025 after 14 years of advocacy.

General Secretary and President To Lam shakes hands with Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao on 10/6. Photo: TTXVN

Regarding bilateral cooperation, the General Secretary and President suggested that, in addition to strengthening political relations, both sides promote defense and security cooperation to address traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

Vietnam and Timor-Leste will also expand economic, trade, and investment cooperation in potential sectors such as oil and gas, mining, agriculture, telecommunications, digital transformation, and human resource training.

The two nations need to enhance cooperation in education and training, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges based on recently signed cooperation documents, including the Visa Exemption Agreement for ordinary passport holders and a Memorandum of Understanding on education cooperation.

The two leaders agreed to continue coordination within ASEAN, the United Nations, and other regional and international forums, contributing to bloc solidarity, promoting ASEAN's central role, maintaining a peaceful, stable, cooperative, and developing environment in Southeast Asia, and upholding international law, including UNCLOS 1982.

General Secretary and President To Lam and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao at the meeting on 10/6. Photo: TTXVN

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao paid an official visit to Vietnam and attended the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) from 7-10/6, at the invitation of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

This visit to Vietnam and participation in the AFF holds significant meaning for Timor-Leste's integration process, as the country has become an ASEAN member, and for the future development of the ASEAN Community, according to TTXVN.

Vietnam and Timor-Leste share a long-standing friendship. Vietnam was one of the first countries to recognize the Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor-Leste (FRETILIN) in 9/1975.

Nhu Tam