Singapore to open embassy in Timor-Leste
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Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (left) met Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas on July 24, 2023.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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Singapore will establish an embassy in the Timor-Leste capital, Dili, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan announced on Monday.
He made the announcement at a joint media conference with his Timor-Leste counterpart Bendito dos Santos Freitas in Dili, and called it a “significant milestone”.
“As they continue to develop as a country and as a nation, especially as they join Asean (Association of South-east Asian Nations), we believe this is the time to establish a resident embassy to be the focal point for our cooperation, for our support and for the mutual exploration of opportunities in the future,” Dr Balakrishnan said of the planned Singapore mission in Timor-Leste.
Areas of cooperation include investment, tourism, defence and energy, according to a statement by Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
The media conference came after Dr Balakrishnan’s meeting with Timor-Leste President Jose-Ramos Horta, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and Mr Freitas on Monday morning.
The planned move to open an embassy was welcomed by the Timorese leaders.
At present, Mr Robin Hu serves as Singapore’s non-resident ambassador to Timor-Leste. He will continue to be in charge before a permanent ambassador is appointed, Dr Balakrishnan said.
Details of where the embassy will be located are also being worked out, the minister added.
Singapore will be the sixth Asean country to open an embassy in Timor-Leste. The other Asean countries that have missions in Dili are Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
During their meetings, Dr Balakrishnan and the Timorese leaders affirmed the warm and longstanding relations
Dr Balakrishnan underscored Singapore’s strong and consistent support for Timor-Leste’s development, the MFA statement said.
“Singapore was amongst the first countries to contribute to peacekeeping and nation-building efforts in Timor-Leste, including over 1,000 personnel and equipment between 1999 and 2012,” it said, adding that Singapore’s police force also sent officers to the country to help set up its police service.
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan with Timor-Leste President Jose-Ramos Horta on Monday.
PHOTO: MFA
Singapore is also a major foreign investor in Timor-Leste in areas such as real estate and hospitality, and Singaporeans are contributing to Timor-Leste’s healthcare and education sectors, the statement said.
“Minister Balakrishnan reiterated Singapore’s commitment to support capacity building in Timor-Leste through the Singapore Cooperation Programme, which has welcomed more than 800 Timorese officials,” the statement said.
Singapore also supports Timor-Leste’s eventual accession to Asean, in accordance with a road map adopted by the grouping’s leaders in May 2023.
To this end, Singapore will “continue to support Timor-Leste in fulfilling the road map”, the statement said.
Dr Balakrishnan also called on Vice-Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay and was hosted to dinner by Mr Freitas on Monday.
