Government of Timor-Leste

Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 Dili, January 26th, 2016

 President of Indonesia, H.E. Joko Widodo makes first official visit to Timor-Leste

Today the President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo made his first official visit to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. At a Joint Press Statement in front of the Government Palace this afternoon, Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo said that their meetings had been very positive and productive.

The President of Indonesia arrived in Dili at 10am this morning with First Lady Mrs. Iriana Joko Widodo and a delegation including the Indonesian Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Secretary and the Minister of Youth and Sports. After an Official Welcoming Ceremony conducted at the Presidential Palace and meetings with Head of State, H.E. Taur Matan Ruak and senior Timorese officials, the President and delegation attended a State Luncheon at the Palace.

This afternoon President Widodo met privately with Prime Minister Araújo before both joined a large bilateral meeting including the visiting Indonesian Ministers and the senior Ministers of the Sixth Constitutional Government. It was during this meeting that several cooperation agreements were finalized with Memoranda of Understanding signed in areas covering Youth and Sports, Archiving, Climatology and Geophysics, Search and Rescue, and Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

Key areas of discussion in the meeting with the Prime Minister and the broader bilateral meeting included opportunities to strengthen cooperation in trade, energy and infrastructure development as well as the shared commitment of both countries to accelerate the completion of both land and maritime borders. Following the Official Visit of Prime Minister Araújo to Indonesia in August last year, the process of delimiting maritime boundaries between the two countires has begun.

Before leaving Timor-Leste this evening President Widodo and his delegation paid their respects at the Metinaro Heroes Cemetery and the Seroja Tomb of Heroes in Díli.

Spokesperson for the Sixth Constitutional Government, Minister of State Agio Pereira said “The visit today highlighted the strong relationship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia. Our close neighbor is one of the great democracies of the world and emerging as an economic powerhouse of the region. We will continue to enhance this friendly and cooperative relationship we have built over many years as we seek to serve our people well and work together for the benefit of both countries.”