Government of Timor-Leste

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, is accompanying the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, during Timor-Leste’s participation in the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York. The agenda includes the General Debate, high-level and bilateral meetings, and side events dedicated to major international challenges.

The Timor-Leste delegation also comprises the Minister of Health, Élia dos Reis Amaral; the Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Rangel; the Secretary of State for Equality, Elvina Sousa; the Timor-Leste Ambassador for Climate Change Affairs, Adão Barbosa; and Timor-Leste’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dionísio Babo Soares.

On September 22^nd, Minister Bendito Freitas accompanied the Head of State to the opening of the General Debate of UNGA 81, at the United Nations Headquarters, which brought together Heads of State and Government and representatives of Member States to present and discuss their respective positions on the main challenges on the international agenda.

As part of Timor-Leste’s participation in high-level activities, President José Ramos-Horta also addressed the meeting “Beyond 2030: Renewing the Global Commitment to Eradicate Poverty in All Its Dimensions”, organised by the Kingdom of Bhutan, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network.

The meeting brought together Heads of State, government representatives, leaders of international organisations, and development partners to review progress in reducing poverty and to discuss ways to keep its eradication at the centre of the international development agenda beyond 2030. The debate focused in particular on multidimensional approaches to poverty and on policies in the areas of health, education, employment, nutrition, and living conditions.

On September 21^st, the President of the Republic also attended a high-level event on social businesses, youth and technology, held at the United Nations Headquarters in the context of the 50th anniversary of microcredit. The meeting brought together political leaders and international officials, including Professor Muhammad Yunus, to debate the contributions of social businesses, youth participation, and new technologies to sustainable development.

During the High-Level Week, Minister Bendito Freitas also took part in various meetings and events as part of Timor-Leste’s diplomatic agenda. Among these, he attended the Partners for Multilateralism Summit and a high-level debate on the Law of the Sea and straits used for international navigation, organised by Singapore and Norway.

The Minister also held bilateral meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, and of the Maldives, Iruthisham Adam, during which they discussed bilateral relations, cooperation across sectors, and coordination in multilateral forums.

Timor-Leste’s agenda in New York also includes bilateral meetings between the President of the Republic and representatives of various countries and international organisations. On September 22^nd, José Ramos-Horta met with the President of Vietnam, Tô Lâm, to discuss bilateral relations and opportunities to deepen cooperation between the two countries.

Timor-Leste’s participation in UNGA 81 continues with the President of the Republic's address to the General Assembly, in which he will present the country’s positions on key international issues, and with the delegation’s participation in bilateral meetings, high-level sessions, and side events throughout the High-Level Week.