Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão Pays Official Visit to Thailand
On October 4th, 2026, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão began an official visit to Thailand to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. The trip includes a bilateral meeting with Thailand's Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, as well as activities across the financial, environmental, and economic sectors.
The Head of Government arrived in Bangkok on October 4th and was received at Suvarnabhumi International Airport by Thailand’s Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkeow. The Timorese delegation includes, among others, the Minister of Finance, Santina Cardoso, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Timor-Leste (BCTL), Hélder Lopes.
On October 6th and 7th, the Prime Minister is attending a conference on the Petroleum Fund in Bangkok. The programme also includes a visit to Nonthaburi and the Thailand Environment Institute, as well as meetings with representatives of the Thai private sector—including Thai Beverage Public Company Limited—focused on opportunities for economic cooperation and investment.
The official component of the visit will take place on October 9th and 10th, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul. This will be the first official visit to Thailand by a Prime Minister of Timor-Leste since 2013 and will precede the 2027 celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
On October 9th, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will preside over the official welcome ceremony for Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and the Timorese delegation at Government House in Bangkok. This will be followed by a bilateral meeting between the two Heads of Government.
The talks are expected to cover development cooperation, defence, and security—including the fight against transnational crime—trade and investment, food security, energy and tourism, people-to-people contacts, and cooperation within ASEAN.
The discussion will cover a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including development cooperation; defence and security cooperation, including the fight against transnational crime; trade, investment, and food security; energy and tourism; people-to-people connectivity; and cooperation within ASEAN.
Following the bilateral meeting, the two Prime Ministers will witness the signing of an agreement and take part in a joint press conference. The programme also includes an official luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister of Thailand in honour of the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste and his delegation.
Thailand and Timor-Leste have maintained close relations since Thailand’s participation in the peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste in 1999. Thailand was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste in 2002.
The visit takes place in a new context of relations between the two countries, following Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN as its 11th Member State in October 2025, and continues bilateral contacts to expand political, economic, and development cooperation.
