On October 13^th, 2024, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão met with the Timorese community living in Portugal during his visit to the Union of Portuguese-speaking Capital Cities (UCCLA) in Lisbon. The UCCLA auditorium was filled with Timorese studying and working in Portugal to listen to the Head of Government and share their experiences and concerns. 

 In his speech, Xanana Gusmão looked back over Timor-Leste’s history, recalling the many challenges faced throughout the process of independence and state and nation-building. “We faced many challenges”, he emphasised, remembering the suffering and losses that have marked the Timorese people over the years. The Prime Minister also highlighted the resilience of the Timorese and stressed the importance of those living outside the country acquiring more knowledge and skills to make a significant contribution to Timor-Leste’s development when they return. 

The meeting allowed the Timorese community in Portugal to express their concerns directly to Government representatives. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, also informed that diplomatic efforts are being made to resolve issues related to the movement of Timorese in Portugal, namely at the airport, in dialogue with the Portuguese authorities.

The meeting was a moment of great unity between the leaders and the Timorese community. After the dialogue, many of those present took the opportunity to take photographs with the Prime Minister and the official delegation, marking the occasion as a symbol of the closeness between Timor-Leste and its citizens living abroad. 

Before the meeting with the Timorese community, the Prime Minister met with UCCLA’s Secretary General, Vitor Ramalho, and other UCCLA staff in a session in which they discussed the projects that UCCLA has already implemented in Timor-Leste and others that are still underway. The visit was marked by the unveiling of a plaque in the institution’s meeting room. 

The official delegation that accompanied the Prime Minister included members of the Government, representatives of the diplomatic corps and leaders of national institutions.