Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas to Visit the Philippines on 19-20 August 2024

MANILA 17 August 2024 – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Bendito dos Santos Freitas will visit the Philippines on 19-21 August 2024. 

Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo will meet with Minister dos Santos Freitas to discuss the current state of the bilateral and multilateral relationships between the Philippines and Timor-Leste, as well as to exchange views on regional and international developments. This is the first time that Minister dos Santos Freitas is conducting an Official Visit to the Philippines in his capacity as Foreign Minister since assuming the role in 2023. 

In 2022, ASEAN Leaders agreed, in principle, to admit Timor-Leste to be the 11th member of ASEAN and granted the state observer status. The Philippines welcomes Timor-Leste’s progress in implementing the Roadmap towards Timor-Leste’s full membership to ASEAN and supports Timor-Leste’s efforts in this regard. END