The Prime Minister, Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo, received, on March 26th, the visit from the Ambassador for Indonesia, Primanto Hendrasmoro, at the Government Palace, in Díli.

During the meeting, the Head of Government referred that the good relationships between Timor-Leste and Indonesia reflect a political maturity between both countries, because, in actual fact, many Indonesian citizens live in Timor-Leste and vice versa.

Rui Maria de Araújo expressed his gratitude to the Indonesia support to the process for accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN and also took the opportunity to bring up the issue of the land borders and their related matters, such as control on drug dealing, illegal immigration and organized crime. For this purpose, the Prime Minister informed that the Government established the Council for Final Delimitation of Maritime Borders, to which it chairs, putting it as a priority issue.

The Indonesian Ambassador expressed the wish for his country to continue preserving the good existing relationships towards Timor-Leste, from which the several Memoranda and Joint Statements on various areas are an example of this.

On what concerns to land borders, the Ambassador Primanto Hendrasmoro praised the excellent cooperation between the Indonesian Republican Police (POLRI) and the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL). As for the Maritime Borders, the Ambassador has asked for speed on the negotiations.

On the investment area, Primanto Hendrasmoro emphasized that the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) from both countries have been performing a good job and soon there will be a meeting between both presidents. Economically speaking, the Ambassador has encouraged Timor-Leste on exporting their local products to Indonesia.