On 23 November 2017, H.E. Mr. Aurélio Sérgio Cristóvão Guterres, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, on the occasion of his visit to Thailand to attend the 2nd Ministerial Conference on Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration in Asia and the Pacific during 22 – 24 November 2017 in Bangkok. This is his first visit to Thailand since being appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste on 15 September 2017.

          On behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Thai people on the passing of His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste  thanked the Royal Thai Government for the development assistance extended to Timor-Leste during the past fifteen years since its founding in the areas of agriculture, public health, rural development, tourism, education, and capacity building for the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste. The Minister also expressed gratitude to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for initiating the School Lunch Program for the students in Timor-Leste and supported the continuation of the project. 

          On bilateral relations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand is pleased with the close development partnership between Thailand and Timor-Leste and reaffirmed the support by the Royal Thai Government on technical cooperation with Timor-Leste, as well as congratulated Mrs. Leopoldina Joao Guterres, a teacher from St. Jose School in Baucau, for being awarded the Most Outstanding Teachers Award 2017 by Princess Maha Chakri Award Foundation. The Minister also reaffirmed the interest of Thailand in investing in the fisheries sector of Timor-Leste as discussed during the official visit to Timor-Leste during 20 – 22 May 2017 and requested the Timorese side to provide details on related investment rules and regulations on this sector. The Minister sought cooperation from the Timorese side to complete the internal process on the entry into force of the Agreement on Visa Exemption for the Holders of Diplomatic and Officials Passports.

          On ASEAN, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste sought Thailand’s support on its application for ASEAN Membership. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand reaffirmed the Royal Thai Government’s support and encouraged Timor-Leste to increase its participation in meetings and activities held by ASEAN and the World Trade Organization (WTO) as well as to consider joining the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) in order to prepare the country to become a full-fledged member of ASEAN. 

          Thailand was among the first three countries, after China and Norway, to establish diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste on 20 May 2002. Thailand and Timor-Leste share a close development partnership and have maintained regular exchanges of high-level visits.