Government of Timor-Leste

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, accompanied the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, on a state visit to Mozambique from July 3^rd to 7^th, 2024, to further strengthen relations between the two countries. 

On July 3^rd, the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, and his entourage arrived in the Republic of Mozambique. The Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Verónica Macamo, and the Mozambican Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Belmiro Malate, welcomed them at Maputo International Airport. The reception included a guard of honour from the Mozambican armed forces and a cultural dance performance. 

 Still on July 3^rd, Minister Bendito Freitas had a bilateral meeting with Mozambique's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Verónica Macamo. During the meeting, strategic areas of cooperation were discussed, such as health, education, defence, natural resources, and technology. They also outlined agreements in education, minerals (hydrocarbons and mines) and diplomatic policy. 

 On July 5^th, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation took part in a meeting at the National Assembly of Mozambique, where, together with President José Ramos-Horta, he discussed political and economic issues with the President of the Assembly, Esperança Bias, and other deputies. Timor-Leste's political and economic stability over the last 20 years was highlighted during the meeting, and ways of strengthening parliamentary and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries were discussed.

Still on July 5^th, Minister Bendito Freitas accompanied President Ramos-Horta to the ceremony honouring the heroes and martyrs of Mozambique in Heroes' Square. 

On the same day, the Mayor of Maputo, Rassaque Manhique, officially welcomed President Ramos-Horta and presented him with the key to the city as a gesture of solidarity and fraternity, symbolising the strong bond between Timor-Leste and Mozambique. 

On July 6^th, Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas visited the Maputo Thermoelectric Power Plant. Marcelino Gildo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Empresa Pública Eletricidade de Moçambique, guided the visit.

 Also on July 6^th, Minister Bendito Freitas visited the CAE/CPLP headquarters in Maputo. Received by Director Colonel Armindo Alcides Garcia Sá Miranda Nogueira, the Minister highlighted the importance of Timor-Leste's active participation in the organisation, which was set up in 1996 to carry out analysis and research in the areas of defence and security among the CPLP member countries.

This state visit strengthened the historical ties and cooperation between Timor-Leste and Mozambique, reaffirming the two countries' commitment to working together for mutual development and prosperity.