On September 4th, 2023, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, held a bilateral meeting at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia. During the meeting, they discussed Indonesia’s continued commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and strengthening human resources and the national economy. 
Jokowi stated that “Indonesia has consistently supported Timor-Leste’s membership application and the implementation of the accession plan, including through capacity building of Timor-Leste’s human resources“. 
The Indonesian President congratulated Xanana Gusmão on his recent appointment as Prime Minister of Timor-Leste and remarked that “Indonesia and Timor-Leste are brotherly countries, and our partnership must be strengthened“. 
Xanana Gusmão acknowledged Presidente Jokowi’s invitation to participate in the 43rd ASEAN Summit and argued for the importance of Timor-Leste’s full ASEAN membership to increase confidence and investment in the country to promote economic growth and national development.
Prime Minister Xanana was accompanied at the meeting by the Vice-Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and the Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas; the Minister of Interior, Francisco Guterres; and the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Rangel.