On January 15th, 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, paid an official visit to the headquarters of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) in Lisbon as part of Timor-Leste’s pro tempore presidency of the organisation for the period 2026–2027. 
Upon arrival at the Palácio Conde de Penafiel, the Minister was welcomed by Ambassador Maria de Fátima Jardim, Executive Secretary of the CPLP, with whom he held a private meeting. This was followed by a formal session attended by the Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the CPLP and senior officials from the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Executive Secretariat of the Community.
In his speech, the Minister stated that assuming the presidency of the CPLP represents a collective commitment, emphasising that “Timor-Leste has accepted the challenge of leading the Community, which was put forward consensually and unanimously by the other Member States”.
During the session, issues related to the monitoring of the main items on the agenda of the Portuguese-speaking organisation were addressed, including the lines of action and priorities of Timor-Leste in exercising the pro tempore presidency, as well as matters relating to the institutional functioning of the CPLP, with an emphasis on the process of restructuring and modernising the organisation, with a view to strengthening it as an instrument of political dialogue and multilateral cooperation, and reinforcing the bonds of solidarity and proximity between Member States.
On the political front, the situation in Guinea-Bissau was analysed. The Minister reiterated Timor-Leste’s and the CPLP’s position on the urgent need to restore constitutional order, calling for “the urgent restoration of constitutional order as an indispensable condition for peace and stability in the country”. He also called for “the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained following the crisis of November 26th as a first and essential condition for the return to democratic normality”.
During the formal session, the Minister presented the instrument of ratification of the Revision of the CPLP Statutes, approved in Luanda on March 27th, 2023 and ratified by the National Parliament of Timor-Leste.
Issues related to strengthening the CPLP’s economic cooperation pillar were also discussed, including trade, employment, vocational training, food security, culture, education, and the promotion of the Portuguese language. In this regard, Bendito Freitas said that the Timorese presidency will remain focused “on promoting cooperation and inclusive development, particularly at the economic and social levels”.
In terms of international projection, the Minister shared information about Timor-Leste’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), formalised in October 2025, noting that this step “constitutes an unprecedented opportunity to build a bridge between Portuguese-speaking entrepreneurs and their counterparts in Asia and the Pacific”.
The visit also included signing the CPLP Guest Book and making statements to the press. This trip to Lisbon is part of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation’s working visit to Portugal, which runs from January 14th to 21st, 2026, within the framework of Timor-Leste’s pro tempore presidency of the CPLP.