The Vice-Minister of Interior, António Armindo, received, on January 30th, 2023, at the Ministry of Interior, a courtesy visit of the Japanese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Tetsuya Kimura, to discuss the cooperation in the security area, namely the capacity building of the Maritime Police Unit (UPM – Portuguese acronym) of the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL – Portuguese acronym).
Vice-Minister António Armindo expressed his gratitude “to the Government of Japan for its willingness to support Timor-Leste in the security area, especially at the level of the Maritime Police, by providing training and a vessel, to support the national response to crime and to protect the sea. 
Ambassador Tetsuya Kimura stated that “the defence of the maritime area is a complex job, which requires resources and capacity building of the services” and that, therefore, “Japan will support with advice, training and a vessel for the UPM, for patrolling the maritime area”.
The Diplomat also pointed out that this “is the second project of Japan with the Ministry of Interior” and expressed “hope that the project will be equally successful”.