Government of Timor-Leste

The Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, defended a ‘common effort’ among the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) member states so that the organisation can contribute to promoting ‘peace and global development’. The statements were made on October 17^th, 2024, after an official meeting with the Executive Secretary of the CPLP, Zacarias Albano da Costa, and representatives of the member countries at the organisation's headquarters in Lisbon. 

During the meeting, Xanana Gusmão emphasised the importance of joint initiatives to strengthen cooperation within the CPLP, stressing that the unity of its members is essential to face global and regional challenges. ‘In the CPLP, there will be joint efforts to concretise and develop the cooperation established between the member countries to achieve the common goal of establishing peace and harmony,’ said the Prime Minister. ‘From the Community countries, we can contribute to world peace and global development.’ Xanana Gusmão also emphasised the commitment of the CPLP countries to promoting the democratic rule of law and sustainable development. 

The CPLP Executive Secretary, Zacarias Albano da Costa, welcomed the Timorese Prime Minister's visit, emphasising the meeting's importance for strengthening ties and sharing ideas.

The Head of Government's visit to the CPLP headquarters is part of an official visit to Portugal, which began on October 12^th, at the invitation of the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro. On October 14, in the presence of the two Prime Ministers, the Strategic Cooperation Programme between Timor-Leste and Portugal was signed, defining the action areas until 2028. 

The meeting was followed by the launch of the works by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão entitled ‘Dalan ba Dame - Paths to Peace’ and ‘Mauberíadas’. The presentation of the works was led by Portugal's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luís Amado, followed by a brief reading of an excerpt from ‘Mauberíadas’. 

The Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries comprises nine member states: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste. The organisation's objectives are political-diplomatic consultation to strengthen its members' presence on the international stage, cooperation in various areas, including education, health, science, defence and culture, and promoting and disseminating the Portuguese language.

The Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas; the Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai; the Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares; the Minister for Higher Education, Science and Culture, José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo; the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres; the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes; the Timor-Leste Ambassador to Portugal, Isabel Guterres; and the Timor-Leste Ambassador to the CPLP, Laura Abrantes, accompanied the Prime Minister on this official visit.