Japan- Timor-Leste Relations
Japan-Timor-Leste Foreign Minister’s Meeting
July 12, 2023
On July 12, commencing at 6:50 p.m. local time (July 12, 8:50 p.m. Japan Time) for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visiting Indonesia to attend the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, held a Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with H.E. Mr. Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi conveyed his warmest congratulations to Minister Freitas on his appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Minister Hayashi also stated that as Timor-Leste is an important partner in the IndoPacific region, sharing values and principles such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, he would like to further strengthen cooperation with Timor-Leste toward the realization of a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” and he condemned an ICBM-class ballistic missile launched by North Korea on July 12. In response, Minister Freitas stated that he would like to work closely with Japan to strengthen the bilateral relations.
- Minister Hayashi conveyed Japan’s consistent support for Timor-Leste’s efforts to join ASEAN and the WTO, and stated that Japan would support Timor-Leste’s efforts including through human resource development. Furthermore, Minister Hayashi conveyed Japan’s intention to invite Timor-Leste to the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in December. In response, Minister Freitas expressed his deep appreciation for this. Minister Hayashi also stated that Japan would like to continue to cooperate with Timor-Leste in such areas as the development and improvement of infrastructure, and the industrial diversification. In response, Minister Freitas expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support to date.
- While exchanging views on the situation in Ukraine, the situation in the East and South China Seas, and the response to North Korea on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, the two ministers confirmed to cooperate in tackling these issues.