OFFICIAL VISIT OF MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND COOPERATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR LESTE BENDITO DOS SANTOS FREITAS TO MALAYSIA 24 26 JUNE 2024

OFFICIAL VISIT OF MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND COOPERATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE BENDITO DOS SANTOS FREITAS TO MALAYSIA
24-26 JUNE 2024

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato' Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan hosted the Official Visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Bendito dos Santos Freitas to Malaysia from 24 to 26 June 2024.

The two foreign ministers met on 25 June 2024, during which both sides expressed a commitment to further strengthen existing bilateral ties and agreed to explore new areas of cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, higher education and connectivity. They also exchanged notes on an agreement by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to grant a parcel of land to the Government of Malaysia as a gesture of appreciation for Malaysia's continued assistance and contributions to Timor-Leste. This parcel of land will enable Malaysia to construct its new Chancery building and an official residence in Dili.

Earlier, Minister Bendito Freitas visited the PETRONAS Twin Towers for a briefing on PETRONAS' oil and gas exploration activities. He also paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Transport, Loke Siew Fook, which was followed by the signing of an Air Services Agreement (ASA) between Malaysia and Timor-Leste. This agreement will enhance cooperation in air services and boost people-to-people connectivity.

Bound by warm and friendly ties since Timor-Leste's independence on 20 May 2002, the partnership has been further reinforced through this visit. In 2023, total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Timor-Leste was USD 43.7 million (RM 196.7 million). Malaysia's total exports to Timor-Leste in 2023 were recorded at USD 43.3 million (RM 195.0 million), while total imports from Timor-Leste amounted to USD 0.4 million (RM 1.7 million).

PUTRAJAYA
25 June 2024