On Wednesday, March 23, the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão was in Indonesia’s Presidential Palace for a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The Prime Minister and the President of the Republic discussed services development, the political, economical, social and cultural relations, about infrastructures, communication, tourism and industry. Issues about education capacity building, agriculture and fisheries were also approached. From this meeting resulted the signature of five Memorandums of Understanding by the delegations of the two countries.

The Members of the Government that integrated the Timor-Leste delegation for the signature of the Memorandums of Understanding were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zacarias Albano da Costa, the Minister of Infrastructures, Pedro da Silva Lay, the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Gil da Costa Alves and the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Mariano Assanami Sabino. The Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmão and The President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhayono, were present in the memorandum signing.

The signing of these memorandums of understanding implies that these two countries are prepared to cooperate amongst themselves, and this meeting is the continuation of the previous Joint Bilateral Community.

The Timorese Government also manisfested the intention of buying military equipments from Indonesia who in turn would be willing to concede a credit.

Regarding other political issues, there was an effort to find solutions concerning the borders, and the issue of industry development in the border regions was also approached.