Following the conclusion of the Ministerial Meeting between the European Union and the Ministers of the Indo-Pacific States, and between the European Union and the Ministers of the Foreign Affairs of ASEAN and Timor-Leste, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito do Santos Freitas, met on February 3rd, 2024 with his counterpart from the Portuguese Republic, João Cravinho, and his delegation, to discuss various issues relating to bilateral cooperation. 
The meeting, held at the Sofitel Hotel in Brussels, focused mainly on cooperation in the areas of justice, education and vocational training, health, state administration, notarial service and mutual support for the development and consolidation of the Portuguese language.
Minister João Cravinho also expressed the Portuguese Government’s deep sorrow at the passing of Minister of Justice of Timor-Leste, Amândio de Sá Benevides.