On October 20^th, 2024, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão attended the swearing-in ceremony of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, and the Vice President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, for the 2024-2029 term. The ceremony, held at the Nusantara-Parliament Hall in Jakarta, was attended by several world leaders. 

In his inaugural speech, Indonesia’s eighth President stressed his commitment to strengthening good relations with all countries, especially his neighbours. ‘Regarding international affairs, Indonesia has chosen a free path. We do not want to follow any military pacts, so we want to choose the path of friendship with all countries,’ declared Prabowo Subianto.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão expressed his satisfaction at taking part in this moment together with representatives from different nations, emphasising an essential point of Prabowo’s speech: ‘As president, you cannot look only at yourself, your family or your group, but you must serve the people’. Xanana added: ‘It’s a thought I have always defended.’ 

The Prime Minister also pointed out that Prabowo recognised essential challenges such as food security, housing and employment, pledging to join forces to improve living conditions in Indonesia. ‘He spoke about the problems facing Indonesia regarding food and the lack of housing and employment. On international relations, Prabowo said that ‘all of Indonesia supports the State of Palestine’, a position that we also share,’ said Xanana.

‘The President’s speech was, above all, a message for society to live in peace, without divisions, allowing everyone to contribute to the country’s development,’ added Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão.

Xanana also mentioned that Prabowo has expressed his intention to visit Timor-Leste and that preparations will be made for this visit. The Prime Minister emphasised that the 9th Constitutional Government’s foreign policy is based on independence and sovereignty: ‘For Timor-Leste, there are no allies or enemies. Everyone is just a friend. In a currently complex international situation, this will continue to be the principle that guides Timor-Leste in its foreign relations.’ 

After the ceremony, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares, attended a dinner hosted by President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka at the Presidential Palace. Representatives from various countries attended. 

Before his visit to Indonesia, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão attended the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Laos, from October 9^th to 11^th. Between October 12^th and 18^th, Xanana Gusmão visited Portugal, where he witnessed the signing of the Strategic Cooperation Programme for 2024-2028 and held meetings with Portuguese political leaders.