Timor-Leste President Ramos-Horta to visit Philippines

Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta will visit Manila on Friday, 10 November, to discuss improving collaboration between the Philippines and Timor-Leste, Malacañang on Sunday.

During his official visit, Malacañang said Ramos-Horta will address various cooperation areas – including technical, political, educational, and economic partnerships – in his bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Malacañang said the following Philippine government departments will attend during the visit: the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Justice, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

In a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Indonesia last May, Marcos conveyed the Philippines' commitment to backing Timor-Leste's journey toward achieving full membership status within the regional bloc.

"In the Philippines, you have a partner. We have always been supportive," Marcos told Timor-Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak.

Timor-Leste has been pursuing membership in ASEAN. However, the member countries of the bloc, who make decisions through consensus, have faced challenges in agreeing on whether to accept or reject this request.