Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Security of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, will pay an Official Visit to the Kingdom of Thailand on 25 – 29 April 2013 as guest of the Royal Thai Government.  The visit is part of his tour of ASEAN Member States following his re-election as Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on 8 August 2012.  Thailand is his first destination in ASEAN. 

             Prime Minister Gusmão will be accompanied by 20 delegates, including Minister of Finance, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Tourism and Secretary of State for ASEAN Affairs.

            The official welcoming ceremony will be held on 26 April 2012 at the Government House, followed by a meeting between the two Prime Ministers.  Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand will also host dinner in honour of Prime Minister Gusmão and his delegation. Apart from the programme of the bilateral visit, the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste is scheduled to attend the 69th UNESCAP Commission Session at the United Nations Convention Centre on 29 April 2013.

             Thailand and Timor-Leste celebrated the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year.  The Official Visit of Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão will open a yet another decade of close relations between Thailand and Timor-Leste where both sides will further enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as socio-economic development,   trade, investment and tourism.