Meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 4th 2025
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste
Ninth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 4th 2025
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Resolution Proposal of the National Parliament, presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, for the ratification of the Declaration of Admission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The purpose of this Resolution proposal is to ratify the Declaration on the Admission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, signed in Malaysia on October 26th, 2025, during the ceremony marking Timor-Leste's full accession to the regional organisation.
The Declaration represents the political acceptance by ASEAN Member States of Timor-Leste's inclusion as a full Member State, in accordance with Article 6(4) of the ASEAN Charter, constituting an essential step towards Timor-Leste's full integration into the organisation's mechanisms and structures.
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In accordance with the draft presented by the Minister of Defence, Donaciano do Rosário Gomes, the Council of Ministers decided to ratify the Agreement on Cooperation in Defence between the Government of Malaysia and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
Among the main objectives of the Agreement is the strengthening of bilateral relations in military matters, namely through regular political and strategic dialogue, the sharing of information and experiences, the exchange of personnel, and technical and military training, joint exercises, and cooperation in science, technology, and the defence industry.
The document also acknowledges Malaysia's role as a trusted defence partner of Timor-Leste since its independence was restored, reaffirming the commitment of both governments to promote peace, security, and regional stability within the framework of ASEAN, of which Timor-Leste is now a full member.
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The Council of Ministers decided to authorise expenditure for the “Development of the Greater Sunrise gas field and to ensure that the gas pipeline comes to Timor-Leste,” according to the project presented by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Francisco da Costa Monteiro.
With this decision, the Council of Ministers authorises expenditure totalling US$16,055,897, to be executed between 2025 and 2027, for the implementation of Program A13 of the General State Budget, which covers the development of the Greater Sunrise gas field and the completion of the studies and initiatives necessary to ensure the construction of the gas pipeline to Timor-Leste.
The authorised amount covers ultra-high-resolution geophysical and seismic surveys (UHRS) related to the Greater Sunrise gas export pipeline and the Bayu Undan pipeline, which are essential for the technical and planning phase of the project.
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The Council of Ministers granted the Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus Soares, full powers to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Singapore for educational cooperation, particularly in teacher training. END
