Timor-Leste participates in the 29th Ordinary Meeting of the CPLP Council of Ministers
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, took part in the 29th Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), held in São Tomé and Príncipe on July 19th, 2024. This meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities of São Tomé and Príncipe, Gareth Guadalupe, and by the Executive Secretary of the CPLP, Zacarias Albano da Costa, in the presence of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CPLP member countries.
The central theme of the general ministerial debate was “The Impact of Youth Mobility in the CPLP Area for the Strengthening of Sustainable Economies”. During the meeting, the member states signed a Charter on Rights and Principles in Digital Environments to promote sustainability and increase productivity through the digital economy while ensuring personal data protection and security in communication via the Internet.
Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas emphasised the importance of youth mobility, stating that “youth is a fundamental asset for sustainable development. Young people are agents of change, bringing innovative ideas and creative solutions to the environmental, social and economic challenges we face”. He also emphasised the positive impact of youth mobility in the CPLP, pointing out that “youth mobility in our Community has extremely positive and tangible impacts on strengthening economic sustainability in our societies”.
Initiatives related to the adoption of renewable energies and cooperation in the fight against climate change were also discussed during the meeting. Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas reaffirmed Timor-Leste's commitment to these initiatives, stressing that “the CPLP, as a body, has a fundamental role in boosting initiatives that promote the well-being of youth with a view to the sustainable development of their economies”.
On the sidelines of this event, The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation held bilateral meetings with some of his CPLP counterparts. With the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, he discussed the Strategic Cooperation Programme, and the problems faced by Timorese citizens when travelling to Portugal. At the meeting with the Brazilian Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, cooperation on human resources development was discussed. Finally, with the Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, the preparation of the official visit of the President of Angola, João Lourenço, to Timor-Leste, scheduled for 2025, was discussed.
The next CPLP Council of Ministers will be held in Guinea-Bissau on July 17th, 2025.
The CPLP is made up of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Portugal, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Equatorial Guinea and Timor-Leste.
Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas concluded his remarks by congratulating the CPLP, which is celebrating its twenty-eighth anniversary this year. He said, “It is a time for celebration and reflection on the importance of being and continuing to be together, united by the Portuguese language and so enriched by the ethnic and cultural diversity of our peoples”.