President Of Timor Leste Wants To Strengthen Relations With Indonesia

President of Timor Leste Jose Ramos Horta delivers a speech after his inauguration ceremony at Tasi-Tolu, Dili, Timor Leste, Thursday (19/5/2022) night. (ANTARA/Galih Pradipta)

DILI - Timor Leste wants to strengthen sub-regional relations between Timor Leste and Indonesia, especially with the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) region.

"We will establish close relations with Indonesia, especially the nearest province, namely East Nusa Tenggara", said José Ramos-Horta when delivering his state speech at the 20th Anniversary of the Restoration of Timor Leste's Independence at the Timor Leste Presidential Palace, Dili, reported by Antara, Friday, May 20.

Apart from NTT, Ramos-Horta will also establish sub-regional relations with the Northern Territory of Australia and Western Australia.

The sub-regional cooperation aims to develop trade and mobility of people and goods through the air and maritime routes.

He explained that his party will always aggressively seek close bilateral relations with Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asian countries which are geographically close to Timor Leste.

Bilateral relations with these countries have become one of the priorities of Timor Leste's national agenda, he added. He also wants to build a more effective economic and commercial integration, as well as comprehensive cooperation in the field of defense and security, especially maritime security.

Ramos-Horta made this statement when delivering his first state of the nation address after being sworn in as President of Timor Leste on Friday morning. He delivered the speech at the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Restoration of Independence of Timor Leste which fell on May 20.

The 20th Anniversary of the Restoration of Independence of Timor Leste was commemorated with a flag ceremony. Friday, the flag ceremony took place from 09.00 to 10.30 local time.

José Ramos-Horta has various agendas to strengthen Timor Leste's foreign cooperation with other countries, particularly in the context of revitalizing the country's economy and building national resilience.