The CPLP approves the Strategic Plan for Ocean Cooperation 2026–2030 at a meeting chaired by Timor-Leste
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0The Ministry of Education has launched initiatives to improve school infrastructure and promote digital innovation in education
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0Secretary of State for Forests participates in the recording of another episode of the “Government Page” TV show
The Secretary of State for Forests, Fernandinho Vieira, participated today, June 11th, 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
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0Minister of National Liberation Combatants’ Affairs on the 23rd episode of the “Government Page” TV show, Friday, June 12th, at 8 p.m., on RTTL
The 23rd edition of the “Government Page” TV show will air next Friday, June 12th, 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 12th, 2026, at 8:00 p.m., on RTTL and social media.
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0Prime Minister Attends the ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in Hanoi
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão attended the ASEAN Future Forum 2026, held on June 9th and 10th 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.
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0Timor-Leste and Vietnam strengthen bilateral cooperation during the Prime Minister’s official visit to Hanoi
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão paid an official visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from June 8th to 10th, 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.
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0Timor-Leste chaired the 25th Meeting of the CPLP Defence Ministers
On June 2nd, 2026, Defence Minister Donaciano Costa Gomes “Pedro Klamar Fuik” chaired the 25th Meeting of the Ministers of National Defence of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP – acronym in Portuguese), held in Dili, as part of Timor-Leste’s pro tempore presidency of the organisation. 
The meeting reflected Timor-Leste’s commitment to promoting dialogue and solidarity, strengthening cooperation among CPLP member states in defence and security, and developing their respective armed forces.
At the opening session, the Minister of Defence, on behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste, extended a warm greeting to the ministers and representatives of the member states, highlighting the shared commitment to deepening defence cooperation through initiatives that deliver tangible results.
“Dili welcomes you with friendship, trust, and a spirit of brotherhood. For Timor-Leste, hosting this meeting is particularly significant. We are a young nation, yet one with a rich historical heritage. We value peace, sovereignty, and international solidarity, and we are committed to strengthening our institutions,” said Rear Admiral Donaciano Costa Gomes.
The minister also stressed that the CPLP brings together countries with diverse realities, capabilities, and priorities, united by the Portuguese language, historical ties, and a desire to cooperate towards common goals. He further noted that the Portuguese language is not only a cultural heritage but also an instrument of trust, training, interoperability, and rapprochement among the defence institutions and armed forces of the member states.
In the context of practical cooperation, Timor-Leste highlighted three priority areas for deepening cooperation within the CPLP: military training, maritime security, and the protection of populations from crises, disasters, and emerging threats.
As a member state of the CPLP, Timor-Leste has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting regional stability, strengthening institutional capacities, and sharing knowledge among the community’s member states.
During the meeting, ministers and representatives of the member states examined international issues and their political and military implications in the regional context, reviewed and approved documents on the CPLP’s strategic vision, assessed the annual activity report, and discussed the schedule for future initiatives.
Minister of National Defence, War Veterans, and Veterans of the Angolan Homeland, General Lúcio Gonçalves Amaral; the representative of the Brazilian Minister of Defence, Army General Alcio Alves Almeida e Costa; the Mozambican Minister of Defence, Cristóvão Artur Chume; the Deputy Secretary of State for National Defence of Portugal, Nuno Pinheiro Torres; the Minister of Defence of São Tomé and Príncipe, Horácio Castro da Trindade de Sousa; the Executive Secretary of the CPLP, Ambassador Maria de Fátima Jardim; the Director of the CPLP Centre for Strategic Analysis, Captain João Carlos Pires; and delegations from the other member states attended the meeting.
The 25th Meeting of the CPLP Ministers of National Defence was part of Timor-Leste’s Pro Tempore Chairmanship programme and helped strengthen multilateral defence cooperation among Portuguese-speaking countries.
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0Prime Minister welcomes the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific
On June 4th, 2026, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão welcomed Michael George DeSombre, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, to the Government Palace in Dili for a meeting to strengthen bilateral cooperation and the strategic partnership between the two countries. 
Michael George DeSombre’s visit to Timor-Leste took place on June 4th and 5th, 2026, with the aim of reaffirming the partnership between the United States and Timor-Leste, particularly in the context of shared regional and global priorities.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, accompanied the Prime Minister to the meeting, where issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed, with a particular focus on strengthening peace, stability, and prosperity at the regional and global levels.
During his visit to Timor-Leste, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State also met the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, to discuss bilateral cooperation programmes, the regional situation, and Timor-Leste’s participation in regional and international forums.
The visit, coinciding with the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence, celebrated on July 4th, highlighted the values shared by the two countries—freedom, democracy, sovereignty, and self-determination—that underpin diplomatic relations between Timor-Leste and the United States.
Michael George DeSombre assumed his duties as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific in October 2025. Previously, he worked in the private sector and served as the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand from 2020 to 2021. He has more than 25 years of professional experience in Asia.
Michael George DeSombre’s visit reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s and the United States’ commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0Chega! National Centre opens a new Archives Centre and hosts a discussion on archival policies and cybersecurity
Agio Pereira, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, attended the inauguration ceremony for the new Chega! Archives Centre today, June 9th, 2026, held at the former Balide Prison/Comarca building in Dili. The event marked International Archives Day and featured an archival exhibition and a national seminar on archival policies and the legal framework for cybersecurity, attended by officials from the Government, members of parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps, development partners, and civil society organisations. 
The new building aims to strengthen national capacity for the preservation, management, and access to the national documentary heritage, thereby contributing to the modernisation of the national archival system and the protection of Timor-Leste’s historical memory. The infrastructure was developed with support from UNESCO and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) as part of the Chega! National Centre’s digitisation project for reconciliation and peacebuilding in Timor-Leste.
In his remarks, delivered under the theme “Archival Policies as a Source of Memory and Hope,” Agio Pereira emphasised that “we are also celebrating International Archives Day, an occasion that reminds us that archives are much more than mere repositories of documents.”
The Minister emphasised that “in a country like Timor-Leste, whose history has been marked by decades of conflict, resistance, and the struggle for self-determination, the preservation of memory takes on a particularly profound significance.” He added that “public archives play a fundamental role in building peace and reconciliation.”
The minister also recalled the role of the Chega! National Centre, established to implement the recommendations of the Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation Commission and the Truth and Friendship Commission. He added that the institution “has played a vital role in preserving the nation’s memory, promoting human rights, fostering peace education, and strengthening reconciliation.” Referring to the Centre’s motto, he added that “‘From Memory to Hope’ exemplifies this mission. Memory is not merely a look back at the past. It is also a tool for building the future.”
Agio Pereira also highlighted the symbolic significance of the new Archives Centre’s location, housed in the former Balide Prison/Comarca building, a site associated with the period of Indonesian occupation. “Today, this same space takes on a different meaning. It is a profoundly symbolic and powerful transformation,” he said.
The Minister also noted that, following the May 20th celebration of the 24th anniversary of the Restoration of Independence, it is important to preserve the memory of the 24 years of Indonesian occupation, from 1975 to 1999. “This journey can only be fully understood if we preserve the memory of the 24 years preceding the Restoration of Independence and the sacrifices that made possible the freedom we enjoy today,” he stated.
As part of efforts to modernise records management, Agio Pereira welcomed the seminar on archival policies and cybersecurity and noted that the 9th Constitutional Government is preparing legislation to strengthen the national framework for cybersecurity, information system protection, and digital resilience.
“The preservation of historical memory and the protection of digital information are today two inseparable dimensions,” he stated, adding that “ensuring the security of digital archives also means safeguarding the national memory so it remains protected and accessible to future generations.”
Before concluding, the Minister expressed the Government’s gratitude to UNESCO, KOICA, and the other partners for their contributions to the project’s success, as well as to the Executive Director and the team at the Chega! National Centre for their work in preserving the nation’s historical memory.
In closing his remarks, Agio Pereira said, “This new Archives Centre is much more than a building. It is a commitment to the truth. It is a commitment to memory. It is a commitment to future generations. It is a commitment to hope.”
Following the opening ceremony and a tour of the new Archives Centre and the archival exhibition, the sessions of the national seminar on archival policies and cybersecurity began. During the morning, the President of the National Archives of Indonesia, Mego Pinandito, presented ASEAN countries’ experiences with archival legislation and institutional frameworks, while representatives from Malaysia and Vietnam addressed the challenges of digital preservation, audiovisual heritage, and the cybersecurity resilience of memory institutions.
In the afternoon, a roundtable discussion was held on public policies, the legal framework governing archives, and the draft Cybersecurity Law in Timor-Leste.
The events held marked International Archives Day and encouraged reflection on the preservation of historical memory and on the challenges of managing and protecting information in the digital age.
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0Speech by Minister Agio Pereira on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of the Archive Centre Building of the Centro Nacional Chega! I.P.
“Archive Policies as a Source of Memory and Hope”
Speech by H. E. the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira
Dili, 9 June 2026
url: https://timor-leste.gov.tl?lang=en&p=0