Government of Timor-Leste

The Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister for Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, took part in the International Religious Leaders Conference 2024, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 7^th, 2024. 

In his statements, the Vice Prime Minister stressed the importance of this conference “for bringing together different religions to promote dialogue and human brotherhood, unity and diversity” and highlighted the “need to guarantee peace and stability in the world so that everyone can live freely according to their own beliefs.”

He also pointed out that Timor-Leste was the first country in the world to officially adopt the Document on Human Fraternity as a “national document”, signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayyeb on February 4^th, 2019 in Abu Dhabi.

Following his participation in the International Conference, the Vice Prime Minister and his delegation engaged in a productive meeting with the Vice Prime Minister of Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, with the aim of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. The meeting encompassed discussions on the continuity of cooperation between Malaysia and Timor-Leste in various areas, such as Agriculture, Health, Economy, Defence, and Security, among others. 

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed his desire to visit Timor-Leste soon to further strengthen Malaysia's role in training human resources for rural development. 

After this audience, the Vice Prime Minister, Mariano Sabino, also met with the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa. In this meeting, he expressed Timor-Leste's commitment to playing an active role in promoting reconciliation and highlighted the country as an example for other nations to follow.