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On September 15th, 2026, the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and members of the 9th Constitutional Government attended the Solemn Opening Session of the Fourth Legislative Session of the Sixth Legislature at the National Parliament in Dili, chaired by the President of the National Parliament, Maria Fernanda Lay, and featuring a message from the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta.
The ceremony began with the entry of the President of the Republic and the President of the National Parliament into the Plenary Hall, followed by the national anthem and a minute’s silence in honour of the heroes who fell for the Homeland.
Following the opening statement of the Plenary Session, addresses were delivered by representatives of the parliamentary benches of the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT), the Democratic Party (PD), FRETILIN, KHUNTO, and the People’s Liberation Party (PLP). The President of the National Parliament then addressed the Plenary before the message from the Head of State.
In his address, the President of the Republic reviewed the nation’s trajectory and addressed the challenges for the coming years, covering the economy, human development, the quality of institutions, defence and security, foreign relations, regional integration, youth, and sustainable development.
José Ramos-Horta also highlighted several achievements of the 9th Constitutional Government and congratulated the Prime Minister “for his wise leadership of the 9th Constitutional Government”. The Head of State emphasised “the success of his efforts to join the WTO and ASEAN”, “the significant progress achieved in the Greater Sunrise negotiations”, and advances in negotiations on the land and maritime borders with Indonesia.
Timor-Leste’s full membership of ASEAN was formalised on October 26th, 2025, with the country’s entry as the 11th member state. In his message, the President of the Republic noted that this integration, together with accession to the World Trade Organization, marked a new phase in Timor-Leste’s regional and international standing.
The President of the Republic also highlighted the Government’s actions in the legal dispute involving the Australian company Lighthouse Corporation over events that occurred between 2010 and 2011. José Ramos-Horta commended “the Government’s courage in exposing the Supreme Fraud involved in the dispute opposing the State, through the company EDTL, and the Australian company Lighthouse Corporation”, noting that the case was recently dismissed by the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia. According to the Head of State, the case involved claims based on an alleged contract without legal force for the supply of fuel and generators, with compensation totalling US$ 600 million.
On the economic front, the Head of State noted that the non-oil economy grew by 4.6% in 2025 and by 5% in the reference period of April 2026. He also noted that credit to the private sector increased by 14.1% in 2025, reaching approximately US$ 724.4 million, against a backdrop of year-on-year inflation of 0.5%.
José Ramos-Horta further underscored Timor-Leste’s international profile, stating: “I also praise the fact that, under the leadership [of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão], the City of Dili and Timor-Leste have served as a ‘Venue for International Meetings and Understandings’”. In this context, he mentioned the recent Regional Conference of the World Health Organization, the CPLP Ministerial Meeting, and the International Summit on Technology and Development.
In the final part of his message, the President of the Republic set 2030 as the horizon for consolidating national development, grounded in democracy and the rule of law, peace and sovereignty, education and knowledge, economic diversification, regional integration, accountable institutions, social inclusion and justice, and the empowerment of youth.
The Solemn Session concluded with the President of the National Parliament closing the proceedings, marking the start of the Fourth Legislative Session of the Sixth Legislature.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, participated on September 14th, 2026, in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, in the high-level segment of the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, where he reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s commitment to humanitarian disarmament, the protection of civilians, and international humanitarian law.
The conference runs from September 14th to 18th, under the theme “Accelerating Progress Towards a World Free from the Threat of Cluster Munitions”, bringing together representatives of States Parties, observer countries, international organisations, and other entities involved in efforts to prevent and address the humanitarian consequences of these weapons.
Discussions focus on evaluating the Convention’s implementation and on measures to accelerate the clearance of explosive ordnance, strengthen risk education, and assist victims and affected communities.
In his address, Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas expressed Timor-Leste’s solidarity with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and with communities affected by cluster munitions and other unexploded ordnance.
The Minister also reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s determination to contribute to international efforts to promote peace, human dignity, and the protection of future generations, and called for strengthened regional and international cooperation in humanitarian disarmament.
The conference is expected to review and adopt the Vientiane Action Plan 2027–2031, which will guide the implementation of the Convention over the next five years and include measures on ordnance clearance and destruction, risk education, victim assistance, and international cooperation.
On the sidelines of the conference, Bendito dos Santos Freitas also met Vietnam’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nguyen Thi Hoang Van. Both parties reviewed the development of bilateral relations following Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão’s official visit to Vietnam in June this year.
During the meeting, discussions covered follow-up to the four documents signed during that visit, negotiations on the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, the status of the Bilateral Trade Agreement, and the convening of the first meeting of the Vietnam–Timor-Leste Joint Commission. Both sides also discussed preparations for the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027.
On the occasion of the conference, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation also attended the official dinner hosted by the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thongsavanh Phomvihane, for the participating delegations.
The Third Review Conference continues in Vientiane through September 18th, evaluating progress achieved and setting priorities for the next phase of the Convention’s implementation.
The Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing, Mariano Assanami Sabino, inspected on September 13th, 2026, the reconstruction works on 46 traditional houses in Loro hamlet, Suai Loro village, Covalima Municipality, where more than 20 homes have already been rebuilt under the “Habitação Digna” (Decent Housing) programme.
Launched in January this year by the Ministry of Rural Development and Community Housing, the initiative aims to improve living conditions for families while preserving the traditional characteristics of the dwellings and the community’s cultural identity.
During the visit, the Vice-Prime Minister, accompanied by the Director-General of Rural Development, Filipe Cardoso Vieira, monitored the progress of the works and the programme’s implementation alongside the local community.
The traditional houses of Suai Loro, known in Tetum Terik as “Laleo Masin”, are built using local materials and using traditional techniques. The project targets homes that have deteriorated over time and lack adequate living conditions.
According to the technical team from the Directorate-General for Housing, more than 20 of the 46 planned houses have already been rebuilt. Works are set to continue throughout 2026 until the remaining homes are completed.
Each house measures approximately seven by six metres, and the reconstruction preserves the traditional design, using locally sourced materials.
During the visit, community members expressed their gratitude to the Government for the initiative, highlighting its role in preserving traditional architecture.
Agusto da Costa, a resident of this village, noted that “this programme is very important for the entire community of Loro hamlet, as the majority of the population lives in traditional houses. Some of these homes were no longer in good condition, and through this intervention by the Ministry, they are now being restored.”
Agusto da Costa also emphasised the cultural dimension of the initiative: “As the new generation of Loro hamlet, we believe this programme helps preserve our heritage and keep our true identity alive for future generations.”
The reconstruction of the 46 houses is part of the Ministry of Rural Development and Community Housing’s “Habitação Digna” programme and is expected to be completed within the current year.