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Speech by H. E. the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium, Ministry of Finance, Dili, 12 June 2026

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste

Ninth Constitutional Government

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Dili, June 12th, 2026

Press Release

The Government of Timor-Leste congratulates the Philippines on Independence Day

The Government of Timor-Leste joins the celebrations of the Independence Day of the Republic of the Philippines, observed on June 12^th, and extends its congratulations to the Government and people of the Philippines on this historic occasion. The Philippines declared its independence on June 12^th, 1898.

Timor-Leste and the Philippines have long-standing friendly and cooperative relations and share a common commitment to promoting peace, stability, and development across Southeast Asia.

Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and Government Spokesperson, stated that “as the Filipino people celebrate Independence Day, Timor-Leste extends its congratulations to the Philippines, a friendly nation and regional partner with which it maintains a relationship of cooperation and mutual respect. At a time when various communities continue to recover from the aftermath of the recent earthquake that struck the country, we also extend our solidarity to the Filipino people. We wish the Philippines prosperity and well-being and reiterate our commitment to strengthening the bonds of friendship between our countries.” END

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The Secretary of State for Forests, Fernandinho Vieira, participated today, June 11^th, 2026, in the recording of a new episode of the “Government Page” TV show, an initiative of the Office of the President of the Council of Ministers that aims to bring citizens closer to government action by publicising the policies, programmes, and priorities of the various areas of governance. 

During the interview, the Secretary of State outlined the Government’s vision for the protection and sustainable management of forest resources, emphasising the importance of forests for biodiversity conservation, environmental security, and the country’s sustainable development.

The discussion also focused on reforestation and conservation programmes, measures to address deforestation and biodiversity loss, and strategies to strengthen local communities’ involvement in protecting natural resources. Environmental education initiatives targeting young people were also discussed to raise awareness of the importance of forests.

This episode also provided an opportunity to clarify current policies promoting the green economy and the sustainable use of natural resources, as well as the forestry sector’s contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change. Among the topics discussed was the potential of environmental financing mechanisms.

At the end of the interview, the Secretary of State for Forests shared a message on shared responsibility for environmental conservation and the role of forests in building a more resilient and sustainable future for Timor-Leste.

Organised by the Office of the Government Spokesperson, led by Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the “Government Page” TV show is produced in partnership with Radio and Television of Timor-Leste (RTTL) and national media outlets to strengthen government transparency, accountability, and citizens’ access to information on the government’s main decisions and policies.

“Government Page” TV show, hosted by Nélia Chaves and produced by Ika Moniz, provides a platform for institutional dialogue centred on the public interest. The TV show, produced by RTTL, also receives technical support from the communications teams of the Office of the Prime Minister, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and the office of the government official being interviewed.

The episode with the Secretary of State for Forests will air soon on RTTL and on social media.

All previously aired episodes are available on the YouTube channel

@PCMPAGINADOGOVERNOTIMORLESTE

The 23rd edition of the “Government Page” TV show will air next Friday, June 12^th, at 8:00 p.m. on Radio and Television of Timor-Leste (RTTL) and on social media. The guest in this episode will be the Minister of National Liberation Combatants’ Affairs, Gil da Costa Monteiro “Oan-Soru,” who will present the Ministry’s 2026 priorities and address issues related to the rights of national liberation combatants, the preservation of historical memory, and support programmes for veterans. 

During the interview, the Ministry’s top priorities will be discussed, including the payment of veterans’ pensions, social inclusion programmes, the construction of Heroes’ Gardens in various municipalities, and ongoing efforts to repatriate and bury veterans’ remains.

The discussion will also focus on the legal criteria for recognising combatants and granting access to pensions, mechanisms for verifying eligibility and preventing fraud, and the Banco do Nosso Futuro (BNF), an initiative designed to promote economic sustainability and facilitate access to credit for veterans and other citizens.

Another key theme will be preserving the memory of the national liberation struggle and passing that legacy on to future generations. The event will feature presentations on ongoing efforts to collect and verify data on East Timorese who lost their lives during the struggle for independence, as well as on initiatives to strengthen understanding of the country’s history.

Minister “Oan-Soru” will also discuss scholarship programmes for the children of veterans and martyrs, social support for the families of combatants, and the goals he aims to achieve by the end of the 9th Constitutional Government’s term.

The “Government Page” TV show is an initiative of the Office of the Government Spokesperson, led by Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, in partnership with RTTL and the national media. Its goal is to strengthen government transparency and ensure the public’s access to the Executive Branch’s key actions and decisions. The program features Nélia Chaves as host and Ika Moniz as executive producer, with technical support from the communications teams of the Council of Ministers, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the office of the government official being interviewed.

 

The Government invites the public to tune in to this episode of the “Government Page” TV show on Friday, June 12^th, 2026, at 8:00 p.m., on RTTL and social media.

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão attended the ASEAN Future Forum 2026, held on June 9^th and 10^th in Hanoi, Vietnam, under the theme “Building Our Future Together: Peace, Prosperity, and People-Centred Development.” 

The Forum brought together heads of government, policymakers, academics, youth representatives, and development partners from the region and the international community, providing a platform for dialogue on the key challenges and opportunities facing ASEAN’s future.

At the opening session, the Prime Minister delivered Timor-Leste’s official statement, emphasising that ASEAN remains a model of regional dialogue and cooperation amid an international context marked by conflict, geopolitical tensions, and global uncertainty.

“We are gathered here at a time of profound global uncertainty. The world faces escalating conflicts, intolerance, and geopolitical tensions, yet ASEAN remains an important example of regional dialogue and cooperation,” he said.

The Head of Government noted that the Forum offers political leaders, academics, young people, and regional partners the opportunity to reflect on ASEAN’s future and to ensure that peace remains the foundation of the region’s stability, cooperation, and sustainable development.

In his speech, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão also highlighted the challenges posed by rapid technological change, particularly artificial intelligence, and argued for a regional approach to ensure that these technologies serve the common good and human dignity.

“ASEAN cannot remain passive in the face of this transformation. We must shape our future and build a regional framework for digital governance that protects our people and ensures technology serves human dignity,” he said.

The Prime Minister also called for the preservation of the principles underpinning regional stability, including respect for state sovereignty, consensus, the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and international law.

Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão stated that Timor-Leste is honoured to participate in ASEAN as a full member and reiterated the nation’s commitment to strengthening the regional community and to working together to build a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous Southeast Asia.

On the sidelines of the Forum, the Prime Minister expressed his condolences to the Government and people of the Philippines for the victims of the earthquake that struck the country.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn expressed his hope that the Forum would produce innovative proposals and concrete actions to strengthen ASEAN’s resilience and adaptability in the face of future challenges.

The Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, along with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, also participated in the Forum.

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão paid an official visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from June 8^th to 10^th, 2026, accompanied by a high-level government delegation, to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen cooperation between the two countries.

Upon his arrival in Hanoi, the Head of the Government was welcomed with official honours and began his visit with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs and at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square, paying tribute to the Vietnamese people’s history and struggle for independence. 

During the visit, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and the Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly, Tran Thanh Man, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and Timor-Leste’s regional integration into ASEAN.

The Prime Minister stated, “Timor-Leste deeply values Vietnam as a long-standing friend. Our two countries share important historical experiences, including the struggle for national dignity, reconstruction, and a commitment to building strong institutions to improve the lives of our peoples.”

During the meetings, the Timorese Government expressed interest in strengthening cooperation in areas including agriculture, food security, fisheries, tourism, infrastructure, connectivity, and human resource development. The Prime Minister also highlighted the contribution of Vietnamese investment to Timor-Leste’s development, particularly through Telemor, and reiterated the interest in attracting more Vietnamese investment to strategic sectors.

The Head of Government also thanked Vietnam for supporting Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN and expressed the country’s interest in continuing to learn from Vietnam’s experience in economic integration, institutional development, strategic planning, and regional coordination.

Following the bilateral meeting between the two heads of government, Timor-Leste and Vietnam signed four cooperation agreements.

Two of the agreements pertain to the fields of education and higher education, with the aim of fostering partnerships between academic and research institutions, facilitating student and staff exchanges, developing training and research programmes, and promoting scholarship opportunities.

The remaining agreements cover visa exemptions for holders of ordinary passports and cooperation between the Timor-Leste News Agency (TATOLI, IP) and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

During the visit, the Prime Minister also visited the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in Bac Ninh Province, where he highlighted Timor-Leste’s interest in learning from Vietnam’s experience in economic development, agriculture, and agribusiness and in promoting training and capacity-building opportunities for young people in Timor-Leste.

The Head of Government also met the UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Seema Malhotra, with whom he exchanged views on regional and international issues. During the meeting, they discussed British support for developing an artificial intelligence ecosystem in Timor-Leste and for strengthening cooperation with ASEAN.

On the sidelines of the official visit, three presidents of municipal authorities in Timor-Leste—Francisco dos Santos (Dili), Veneranda Lemos Martins (Baucau), and Luís Marçal da Costa Tavares (Manufahi)—attended the 2026 ASEAN Cities Leaders Conference, which focused on developing smart, sustainable, and connected cities.

The Timorese delegation included, among other government officials, Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and the Environment Francisco Kalbuadi Lay; Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing Mariano Assanami Sabino; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas; the Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares; the Minister of Trade and Industry, Filipus Nino Pereira; the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel; the Secretary of State for Media, Expedito Dias Ximenes; and the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Elizabeth Exposto.

The official visit, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, served to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.