Timor-Leste and Indonesia strengthen bilateral relations and sign cooperation agreements
The Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, paid his first official visit to Indonesia since taking office last July to meet with the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, in Jakarta on January 26th, 2024.
The Timorese delegation, led by the Head of Government, included the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes, and a delegation from the Land and Maritime Boundaries Office.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to push forward the resolution of the land border negotiation process between the two countries, agreeing that before the formal agreement is signed, progress must be made on resolving outstanding technical issues that require consensus for the mutual benefit, especially for the populations in the border areas.
The leaders also highlighted their commitment to intensifying economic cooperation by establishing strategic partnerships to promote sustainable development in both nations.
In infrastructure, the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, signed a memorandum of understanding to train human resources in engineering. 
The Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, formalised a cooperation agreement in communications and information technology to improve telecommunications infrastructures in both countries. 
On the regional front, the Indonesian President expressed his commitment to continuing to support Timor-Leste's full membership of ASEAN and the issue of Myanmar was also discussed, with both leaders agreeing to support Laos' chairmanship of ASEAN this year to promote the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão stressed the importance of this meeting “to reaffirm the relations of friendship, solidarity and cooperation that exist between the two countries”.
President Joko Widodo said it was “an honour for Indonesia to receive Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão's first official visit since taking office last July, demonstrating the strengthening of ties between Timor-Leste and Indonesia”.
