Secretary Locsin Receives Timor-Leste Foreign Minister in Courtesy Call

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (left) and Timor-Leste Foreign Minister Dionisio Da Costa Babo Soares (right) pose for a photo opportunity during the latter's courtesy call on the former on 05 July 2019. (DFA-OSCR photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)

PASAY 06 July 2019  — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., received visiting Timor-Leste Foreign Minister Dr. Dionisio Da Costa Babo Soares on 05 July 2019 at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Minister Babo Soares is visiting the Philippines from 04-07 July as part of a swing of ASEAN member countries.

The Timor Leste Foreign Minister sought the Philippines’ support for its bid for ASEAN membership. In response, Secretary Locsin assured the Foreign Minister of the Philippines’ support for Timor-Leste’s bid.

Timor-Leste holds observer status in ASEAN and formally submitted its application for full membership in 2011. The country is also a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

The two ministers took the opportunity to review the overall state of relations between the two countries and agreed to work together to explore opportunities for cooperation. Secretary Locsin reiterated the Philippines’ readiness to continue providing capacity-building projects to Timor-Leste, including in technical and English-language training.

On the economic front, Foreign Minister Babo Soares invited the Philippines to explore investment opportunities in Timor-Leste.

The Philippines and Timor-Leste established diplomatic relations in 2002. END