Timor-Leste and Vietnam discuss cooperation in the agriculture and fisheries sectors
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão begins the official programme of his visit to Thailand this Friday, 9 October 2026, at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, with an official welcoming ceremony at Government House in Bangkok, followed by a bilateral meeting between the two Heads of Government.
This is the first official visit to Thailand by a Prime Minister of Timor-Leste since 2013 and the first since Timor-Leste joined ASEAN in October 2025. The visit also comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, to be commemorated in 2027.
Talks between the two Heads of Government are expected to cover development cooperation, defence and security, including efforts to combat transnational crime, trade and investment, food security, energy and tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation within the ASEAN framework.
Following the bilateral meeting, the two Prime Ministers are expected to witness the exchange of an agreement and take part in a joint press conference. The programme also includes an official luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in honour of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and the Timorese delegation.
The Head of Government has been in Thailand since 4 October, where he has undertaken several activities ahead of the start of the official programme of the visit.
On 6 and 7 October, the Prime Minister took part in a seminar on the prudent and sustainable management of the Petroleum Fund, which brought together national and international experts in finance and investment to examine the Fund's sustainability, fiscal and investment strategy, and the challenges associated with its long-term management.
On 8 October, the Prime Minister met with representatives of Thai Beverage Public Company Limited (ThaiBev) and TCC Group to discuss investment opportunities and economic cooperation, including in the areas of local production, tourism, retail, real estate and logistics.
On the same day, Xanana Gusmão met with former Thai military personnel and officers who had served in international peacekeeping missions in Timor-Leste. Thailand participated in international operations in Timor-Leste from 1999 and was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste in 2002.
The official programme of the visit continues until 10 October.
