Timor-Leste Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri welcomes Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad.
Timor-Leste Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri welcomes the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad in Dili today, and a high-level delegation of Ministers and senior business executives. Prime Minister Mahatir is making the visit to Timor-Leste days before his retirement on 31 October after almost 21 years in office.
The visit highlights Timor-Leste’s potential for foreign investment in a range of industries and ongoing technical cooperation in government sectors. Ministers and business executives in the delegation are from sectors such as Primary Industries, Defence and Security, Economic Planning, Customs and Excise and Rural Development.
The purpose of the visit is to further strengthen bilateral relations and to discuss technical cooperation and investment opportunities. Prime Minister Alkatiri said: “Timor-Leste has benefited greatly from Malaysian assistance both technically and politically.
“Today, Malaysia is one of our key partners in the region. Malaysia was the first country I visited as Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, and Prime Minister Mahatir is the first Prime Minister to visit Timor-Leste since the restoration of independence.”
In furthering bilateral cooperation an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) for the Economic, Technical, Scientific and Cultural Agreement, and the Partial Visa Abolition Agreement will be signed by Timor-Leste Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dr. Ramos Horta and Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs The Hon Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
Prime Minister Alkatiri said he regarded the visit as an honour, and that it symbolizes the strong relationship Timor-Leste has with Malaysia.
“I hope to continue to build on our relationship and to learn how Malaysia’s experience can help Timor-Leste respond to the challenges of economic development” he added.
A joint press conference will be held at the Independence Memorial Hall in Dili at 1700hrs on Thursday 23 October.