OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER

TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE

23 & 24 SEPTEMBER 2025

Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will undertake an official visit to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste from 23 and 24 September 2025, at the invitation of Prime Minister of the Democratic of Timor-Leste, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Minister of Defence Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Minister of Communications Datuk Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil and other senior officials.

The Prime Minister will be accorded with a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace on 23 September 2025, followed by a courtesy call on President José Ramos-Horta. An official dinner in honour of the Prime Minister and delegation will also be co-hosted by President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão at the Government Palace on 24 September 2025. Both Leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations with the view to advancing cooperation in trade and investment, higher education, tourism, health and human capital development, among others.

The two Prime Ministers will also witness the exchange of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between business institutions namely between the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) and Banco Central de Timor-Leste (BCTL) for collaboration on professional development and capacity building within the financial sector; and between the Asian Institute of Insurance (AII) and BCTL on enhancing quality and standards in insurance education and professional development.

The Prime Minister will also deliver a special address to the National Parliament of Timor-Leste. At the invitation of President José Ramos-Horta, the Prime Minister will also deliver a keynote address at the Presidential Lecture Series, themed “Strategic Guidance on ASEAN Membership, Regional Integration, and Partnerships”. President José Ramos-Horta will then confer to the Prime Minister with the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the country’s highest civilian award in recognition of his leadership and commitment to strengthening bilateral and regional ties.

As part of the programme, the Prime Minister will also engage with members of the Malaysian diaspora in Dili, as well as alumni of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) and the Malaysian Defence Cooperation Programme (MDCP). In the last two years, over 500 Timorese officials were trained under MTCP to support Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership preparations, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over 1,100 since 2000. The Prime Minister, together with Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão are also scheduled to launch the upcoming Convention Centre at Dili Port, a milestone in Timor-Leste’s journey towards ASEAN membership.

The official visit will further strengthen the strong and friendly relations enjoyed by both countries, while demonstrating Malaysia’s continued support for Timor-Leste’s aspiration of becoming a full member of ASEAN in October 2025.

In 2024, total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Timor-Leste was USD18.72 million (RM85.68 million). Total export from Malaysia to Timor-Leste in 2024 was recorded at USD18.37 million (RM84.06 million). Meanwhile, total import of products from Timor-Leste in 2024 amounted to USD0.35 million (RM1.62 million).

PUTRAJAYA

22 September 2025

Press Releases

OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRIME MINISTER TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE 23 & 24 SEPTEMBER 2025

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