On Friday, August 4th, the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, welcomed at the Government Palace in Dili the Chargé d’Affaires of the Australian Embassy in Timor-Leste, Caitlin Wilson, to discuss bilateral cooperation in line with the priorities of the 9th Constitutional Government. 
During the meeting, the diplomat congratulated Minister Agio on his recent appointment as Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. She expressed Australia’s willingness to support the 9th Government in achieving its priorities and further strengthen bilateral relations throughout the term.
Agio Pereira highlighted the excellent relations with the Australian Government and considered Anthony Albanese a long-time friend of Timor-Leste since the times of the struggle for national liberation.
The Minister for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers presented the 9th Constitutional Government Programme’s top priorities, with particular emphasis on strengthening the national economy, with the development of Greater Sunrise and the South Coast of the country, job creation and private sector development, the establishment of the Development Bank of Timor-Leste to facilitate access to finance with affordable interest rates and the development of the agriculture and industry sectors.
The decentralisation of the Public Administration to strengthen democratic participation and economic development at municipal and rural levels was also highlighted, as well as the reform of the status of the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno and the reform and modernisation of the Public Administration to improve its effectiveness and efficiency, to ensure better public services, with the implementation of audits and mechanisms to review the efficiency and effectiveness of public institutions. Another of the Executive’s priorities emphasised was Timor-Leste’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Chargé d’Affaires of the Australian Embassy addressed the willingness to broaden the scope of the Labour Mobility Programmes to include technical and skilled areas such as hospitality.
Caitlin Wilson also informed that she will start meeting with various government members to assess sectorally how Australia can support Timor-Leste, according to the 9th Constitutional Government’s priorities.