Timor-Leste and Laos established Cooperation in Economy, Trade and Technology
The State of Timor-Leste, represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito Freitas dos Santos, formalised an initial cooperation agreement on economy, trade and technology with the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Saleumxay Kommasith. The signing ceremony occurred at the Lao National Assembly Hall in Vientiane on February 29th, 2024.
This agreement was signed on the sidelines of the official visit of the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, to Laos and following a bilateral meeting between the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste and his counterpart from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thoungloung Sisoulint. 
In this bilateral meeting, the Heads of State discussed strengthening cooperation relations between the two countries and the process of Timor-Leste joining ASEAN, including regional and multilateral issues.
Therefore, the Presidents of the two countries reiterated the importance of setting up a joint commission between Timor-Leste and Laos to prospect and analyse cooperation opportunities in industry, transportation, the creation of work camps, tourism, agriculture, petroleum, and other possible areas of cooperation. 
The Head of State of Laos also congratulated the State of Timor-Leste on its recent accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the organisation’s 13th Ministerial Conference, which could increasingly boost the national economy.
On the same occasion, the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Filomeno Aleixo, also signed a Note of Intent with his counterpart to grant land for the future installation of the Embassies of both countries under the political principles of reciprocity.
