Prime Minister's Visit to the Azores Paves the Way for Co-operation Agreement on the Blue Economy and Ocean Protection
On October 15 and 16, the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, made an official visit to the island of Faial, located at the western end of the Central Group of the Azores archipelago, where he was received by the President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Luís Garcia, and the President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen bilateral relations and explore new opportunities for cooperation, especially in the field of the blue economy and the protection of marine areas. 
During the meetings with Luís Garcia and José Manuel Bolieiro, Prime-Minister Xanana Gusmão underlined the priorities of the Timor-Leste government, highlighting the importance of the blue economy for the country's sustainable development. During the meetings, cooperation was discussed in the areas of scientific research and training between the Azores and Timor-Leste, to be formalized soon, which will involve training programs for Timorese technicians in the Azores and the sending of Azorean trainers to Timor-Leste to support local technical development. 
Timor-Leste's Head of Government expressed his satisfaction and gratitude for the Azores' willingness to share its knowledge in the areas of marine sciences, biodiversity and the environment, which are considered priorities for Timor-Leste. Xanana Gusmão also said that it was “a great joy” “to know that the Azores, particularly Faial, are equipped with various conditions to help us understand and implement this global ocean preservation policy” .
The President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, expressed his intention to formalize a cooperation protocol between Timor-Leste and Portugal, through the Azores, to “develop partnerships in various areas, with emphasis on the economy of the sea and scientific research led by the University of the Azores”. Bolieiro also highlighted the success of the Azores “in scientific research linked to fisheries and the deep seabed”. 
During their stay, the Prime-Minister and the Timorese delegation visited projects linked to the blue economy, including the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries at the University of the Azores, the Okeanos research institute and the Azores Sea School, all located in the city of Horta, the legislative capital of the Azores. 
The visit also included a meeting with the President of the Municipality of Horta, Carlos Ferreira, where Prime-Minister Xanana Gusmão expressed his gratitude for the support of the Azorean people in sending school supplies to the Infante Sagres College in Maliana, founded by the Azorean priest Manuel Silveira Luís.
The official delegation from Timor-Leste was made up of the Vice-Prime-Minister, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Loro Dias Ximenes. The visit was also attended by the Portuguese Ambassador in Dili, Manuela Bairos, and the Timor-Leste Ambassador in Portugal, Isabel Guterres. 
