Official Visit of the Portuguese Minister of Justice to Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste welcomed the official visit of the Portuguese Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice, from June 7th to 9th, 2024, intending to strengthen bilateral cooperation, especially in justice sector reform.
The Portuguese Minister of Justice took part in various activities and official meetings, in particular, the official reception by the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and the Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai, in the meeting room of the Land and Maritime Boundaries Office at the Government Palace in Dili. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and the Justice Reform Working Group Coordinator, Lúcia Lobato, also attended the meeting. The meeting discussed a future agreement to be signed soon between the two countries on reforming the justice sector.
During the visit, a Land Concession Protocol was signed, granting the Portuguese State the right to a parcel of land in Dili for the construction of the new facilities of the Portuguese School of Dili - Ruy Cinatti Portuguese Language and Teaching Centre (EPRC-CELP). This initiative aims to respond to the growing demand and interest in the institution, reinforcing the importance of Portuguese language teaching and cooperation in education between the two countries. The protocol was signed by the Minister of Justice of Timor-Leste, Sérgio Hornai, and the Minister of Justice of Portugal, Rita Alarcão Júdice, in the auditorium of the Ministry of Justice.
In her speech, Minister Rita Alarcão Júdice emphasised the importance of "signing a 99-year land right for the construction of a new Portuguese School in Dili, reinforcing the importance of teaching the Portuguese language, which is an essential investment for Timor-Leste". 
Rita Júdice's visit to Timor-Leste also included taking part in the celebrations for the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Communities, which took place in Liquiçá on 8 June.
