The former President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, arrived in Timor-Leste on Wednesday, July 8th, for a three-day official visit, at the invitation of the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta. The visit, which runs through July 10th, aims to strengthen the historic ties of friendship, dialogue, and cooperation between Timor-Leste and Indonesia.
Upon her arrival at President Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili, Megawati Soekarnoputri was welcomed by the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, and the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, at a ceremony attended by the Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and the Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas; and other national and diplomatic officials.
This is Megawati Soekarnoputri’s second visit to Timor-Leste. Her previous visit took place in May 2002, when she participated, in her capacity as President of the Republic of Indonesia, in the ceremonies marking the Restoration of Timor-Leste’s Independence. President José Ramos-Horta extended the invitation for this visit during a meeting in Abu Dhabi as part of the 2026 Zayed Awards for Human Fraternity, and it was subsequently confirmed at a meeting between the two leaders in Jakarta in March of this year.
During the visit, the President of the Republic will receive Megawati Soekarnoputri in audience and award her the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the highest national honour, in recognition of her contribution to strengthening the bonds of friendship, dialogue, and cooperation between Timor-Leste and Indonesia. A lecture and an official luncheon hosted by the President of the Republic are also scheduled.
The programme also includes a tribute to national heroes at the Garden of Heroes in Metinaro, as well as a wreath-laying ceremony at the Seroja Cemetery in honour of the Indonesian military personnel buried there.