Visit of the Prime Minister to Japan and Indonesia
The Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, held a three-day visit to Japan, between March 18 and 20, 2012.
The Head of the Timorese Government met in Tokyo with his counterpart, Yoshihiko Noda, on Monday, March 19, a friendly bilateral meeting where the two Prime Ministers agreed on the details regarding the "Yen Loan".
It is a long term loan with low interest granted by Japan to Timor-Leste for the rehabilitation of the National Highway 1 (which connects Dili to Baucau). According to the project, identified in the Strategic Development Plan, it is 118 miles of road that complies with international quality standards with strong, high quality infrastructure.
This stretch that connects the two largest cities of the country is essential for the development of trade and tourism and will benefit the people of Timor-Leste for many decades.
At the meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda expressed to Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão his satisfaction with the good relationship maintained between the two countries and confirmed the support of Japan with respect to the entry of Timor-Leste in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Japanese Prime Minister, further, pointed out the calm and peaceful manner which has characterized the recent Presidential elections and congratulated Prime Minister Gusmão "for his leadership towards the consolidation of democracy".
On this trip to Japan, the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste also held meetings with the Parliamentary League for Friendship (a long-time supporter of Timor-Leste), with members of the opposition party, with the Minister of Defense of Japan and with the former ambassadors of Japan to Timor-Leste.
To read the Press Release of the Government Spokesperson on the visit of the Prime Minister to Japan, click here.
To see the photo album on the visit of the Prime Minister to Japan, click here.
The Head of the Timorese Government, headed for the Indonesian capital from Japan, where he arrived on March 21, to attend the second International Defense Dialogue in Jakarta (JIDD).
The Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Timor-Leste, was one of the keynote speakers of this meeting that brought together around 1500 participants from 37 countries.
In a speech on the theme: "Military Operations ther than War: Regional and National Perspectives," Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão noted that in Timor-Leste “We are overcoming the conflicts that we lived for more than a quarter century, including our own internal disputes, we want to share our experience of reconciliation and focus our efforts on a more humanistic ideal of political and social tolerance for the dignity and development of all".
To read the speech of the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste click here.
The opening ceremony was led by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, who said: "Building solid foundations for peace and development can take years or even decades", highlighting that "peace can bring sustained rapid benefits", and by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, his honorable statement “in the presence of my good friend, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão".
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recalled "that Indonesia and Timor-Leste shared a painful story and have a difficult past history", concluding that the two countries could have "now one of the stronger relationships between neighbors in Southeast Asia. Thus not only making our borders peaceful and helping make our region and the world a little safer".
Accompanying the Prime Minister at this meeting was the F-FDTL Commander Major General Lere Anan Timur, the Secretary of State for Defense and members of the armed forces of Timor-Leste.
To read the Press Release of the Government Spokesperson on the participation of the Prime Minister in the second International Defense Dialogue in Jakarta, click here.
To see the photo album on the second International Dialogue Defense in Jakarta, click here.
