At the official invitation of Chief Advisor, Bangladesh Dr. Muhammad Yunus, President of the Democratic Republic Timor-Leste, His Excellency Dr. José Ramos-Horta paid an Official Visit to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh from 14 to 17 December 2024.

During the visit, President of Timor-Leste, Dr. José Ramos-Horta paid deep homage to the martyrs of the ‘Liberation War in 1971’ and ‘July-August Revolution 2024’ who made supreme sacrifice for an Independent and Discrimination free Bangladesh. President José Ramos-Horta recalled with gratitude the contribution of the Bangladesh Peacekeeping forces in Timor-Leste in 2002.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction over steadily growing relations between Bangladesh and Timor-Leste. They underscored the need for tapping available synergies and increased economic engagements. They appreciated signing of MOU on ‘Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM)’ and Agreement on the ‘Exemption from Visa Requirement for the Diplomatic and Official or Service Passport holders’ during the visit.

During the visit, the two sides explored possibility of advancing the bilateral cooperation between the two nations in the fields of trade & investment, air services, cultural exchange, education, professional and diplomatic training, disaster management, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and poverty alleviation including microfinance and microcredit. The above-mentioned fields of cooperation will be further discussed between the two Governments through the agreed Bilateral Consultation Mechanism. 

Both sides discussed the following potential areas of cooperation i.e. food security, health and nutrition, agricultural cooperation including contact farming, livestock and veterinary science, deep sea fishing and aquaculture, ICT, tourism, Bangladesh diaspora, regional and international issues of common interest. They also highlighted exchange of higher educational experience through student exchange, faculty exchange, research projects and joint masters and doctoral programmes.

Around 200-300 Bangladeshi nationals are currently living in Timor-Leste. Both the leaders discussed the possibility of issuing a long-term stay permit (Permanent Residency) and Work Permit for the Bangladeshi expatriates living in Timor-Leste in accordance with the law. 

Both the leaders emphasized on the importance of joint efforts in addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges such as climate change, food security, green energy, human trafficking and transnational crime.

Bangladesh sought Timor-Leste’s support for repatriation of the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) staying in Bangladesh. Bangladesh urged Timor Leste’s active role in the International and Regional fora for immediate return of the FDMNs from Bangladesh. Both agreed that the solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis lies with Myanmar.

The two leaders acknowledged the importance of coordinated actions for common objectives within international organizations such as the United Nations (UN). They committed to jointly supporting initiatives to strengthen and support sustainable development and climate actions, international peace and security, protecting human rights, international justice and promoting economic and social progress.

Both the leaders expressed grave concern over the situation in the Middle East; tragedies in Palestine, carpet bombing of Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and emphasized on the importance of addressing issues of human rights and humanitarian concerns of the international community. Both the countries unwaveringly support a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the right of the peoples of Palestine and Israel to live side by side in peace, with dignity, and in safety within the pre 1967 borders. Timor-Leste and Bangladesh support initiatives that uphold the principles of the UN Charter and contribute to a world where conflicts are resolved through peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the values of the United Nations.

Both the nations expressed concern over the agony of poverty, rising costs in the most impoverished countries and call for the global combined efforts of unlocking finance through writing off debt, streamlining international finance at lowest interest rates, and significantly increasing official development assistance to Small Island Developing States, LDCs and climate vulnerable nations. Both the countries believe that it would be a leap forward in international solidarity if all OECD countries were to allocate 1% of their national GDP to ODA, as it would bring a positive effects on poverty rates, food security, access to basic health services, education, electricity, drinking water, sanitation, housing or social security, with multiplier effects on the diversification of economies, especially in agriculture.

The maiden visit as the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Dr. José Ramos-Horta, to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh ushered in a new era in the bilateral relations between the two countries. Both the leaders expressed optimism for a stronger and deeper partnership for mutual benefits of the two friendly nations.