Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Díli, August 25th, 2015
Prime Minister leads High Level Delegation of the Sixth Constitutional Government on Official Visit to Indonesia
The Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo leaves Timor-Leste today for Jakarta on an official visit to the Republic of Indonesia. This will be the first official international visit of the Prime Minister since his inauguration on the 16th of February this year. In keeping with a visit to Timor-Leste’s closest neighbour a large delegation of senior members of the Government will accompany the Prime Minister and engage in important bilateral meetings during the three-day visit.
The visiting delegation includes Minister of State, Coordinator of Social Affairs and Minister of Education H.E. António da Conceição, Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries H.E. Estanislau da Silva, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation H.E. Hernani Coelho, Minister of Finance H.E. Santina Cardoso, Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications H.E. Gastão de Sousa, Minister of Defence H.E. Cirilo Cristovão and Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the visit noting “We value greatly our continued relationship with the great nation of Indonesia.”
During the visit Prime Minister Araújo will be officially welcomed by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Joko Widodo, at the Istana Merdeka Palace. On Wednesday the two will meet privately before joining the delegations of the both nations in a bilateral meeting, to be followed by the presentation of a joint press statement. President Widodo will then host an official luncheon for Prime Minister Araújo and the Timor-Leste delegation.
On Thursday the Prime Minister meets the Secretary-General of ASEAN H.E. Mr. Le Luong Minh at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta before returnng to Dili on Friday 28th August. On return a special press conference will be convened at the Dili International Airport.
Spokesperson for the Sixth Constitutional Government, Minister of State Agio Pereira, noted “this trip to Indonesia is an important one for both countries, celebrating the solidarity and cooperation that characterises our unique relationship. Our partnership extends across all sectors and the visit of Prime Minister Dr. Rui Araújo with senior members of our Government will further strengthen the already positive and productive friendship.”