Secretary Manalo and Timor-Leste Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas Discuss Bilateral Affairs, Sign Agreement on Waiver of Visa Requirements
Photo courtesy of DFA-OPD Jeffrey Mendoza
MANILA 22 August 2024 – Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo held a bilateral meeting with visiting Timor-Leste Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas on 20 August 2024. This is the first Official Visit of Minister Freitas to the Philippines since being appointed as the Foreign Minister for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste last 01 July 2023. The visit follows the successful state visit of President Dr. José Ramos-Horta to the Philippines in November 2023.
During the meeting between Secretary Manalo and Minister dos Santos Freitas, the Philippines reiterated its support for Timor Leste's membership to ASEAN and committed to provide needed capacity building and technical assistance. The two Foreign Ministers also shared their views on ongoing global events such as the developments in the West Philippine Sea and cooperation with the European Union.
The Foreign Ministers reiterated their commitment to convene the 2nd Policy Consultations, which was last held in 2014 in order to provide an avenue for both sides to discuss in detail the state of bilateral relations and cooperation. The bilateral meeting concluded with the signing of the Agreement Between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on the Waiver of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Official or Service Passports. END