On October 12th, 2024, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão began his official visit to Portugal after participating in the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Laos. This visit, which will last until October 18th, aims to strengthen bilateral relations between Timor-Leste and Portugal, focusing on strategic areas such as education, justice, security and economic cooperation.
On arrival in Lisbon, the Prime Minister was welcomed by Manuela Bairos, the Portuguese Ambassador to Timor-Leste; Isabel Guterres, the Timor-Leste Ambassador to Portugal; and Laura Abrantes, the Timor-Leste Ambassador to the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP).
During his stay, the Head of Government of Timor-Leste will meet with the President of the Republic of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of the Portuguese Parliament, Pedro Aguiar-Branco, and the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro. 
One of the key moments of the visit will be the signing of the Strategic Cooperation Programme between Timor-Leste and Portugal for the period 2024 to 2028, focusing on five priority areas: Human Development, Rule of Law and Good Governance, Public Administration and Economy, Youth and Employment, and Oceans and Sustainability. The cooperation agreement will include measures to strengthen education and health, modernise public administration, promote justice and good governance, and encourage youth entrepreneurship and environmental protection. Additional agreements related to infrastructure and tourism are also planned, underlining the continued commitment of both countries to deepen their bilateral relations. 
The visit also includes a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the CPLP and representatives of the member states of this multilateral organisation. The Prime Minister will also have the opportunity to meet with the Timorese community living in Portugal, Portuguese academics, and members of civil society.
At the invitation of the Regional Government of the Azores, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão will visit the island of Faial in the Azores to learn about projects related to the blue economy, an area of great interest to Timor-Leste. These projects aim to promote the sustainable development of marine resources and diversify the national economy. 
Several members of the Government of Timor-Leste are accompanying the Prime Minister on this official visit, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, the Minister of the Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, the Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, the Minister of Justice, Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai, the Minister for Higher Education, Science and Culture, José Honório da Costa Pereira Jerónimo, the Secretary of State for Social Communication, Expedito Dias Ximenes, and the Timor-Leste Defence Attaché in Portugal, Colonel Mário Batista ‘Bersama’, as well as technical teams.