The Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, met today, August 30th 2024, with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Australia, Richard Marles, at the Government Palace in Dili.

The meeting was also attended by the Minister for the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, the Minister for Defence, Donaciano do Rosário Gomes and the Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Caitlin Wilson. 

The Australian official is in East Timor to take part in the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the popular consultation, reinforcing the historic ties between the two countries.

During the meeting, bilateral cooperation issues were discussed, with a focus on the Labour Mobility Program (PALM), the development of the Greater Sunrise project, cooperation in maritime security and the ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation for Development.