Dili, July 9 (AseanAll)  — The President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, J. Ramos-Horta, on July 9, 2025 attended a reception at the Fundação Oriente Garden celebrating France’s National Day, joining dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, and French guests, using the occasion to call for the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.

While celebrating the universal values of “liberty, equality, and fraternity,” the Head of State made a direct appeal to the French Government to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Dili to the status of a full-fledged embassy, stressing that such a measure would be a strategic step as Timor-Leste prepares for its full accession to ASEAN.

The President highlighted the strengthening of the economic partnership between Timor-Leste and France, referring in particular to the $140 million renewable energy project in Laleia. This investment, led by a consortium that includes the French company EDF, will create the country’s first Independent Power Producer in the renewable sector. Ramos-Horta stated that this initiative represents a model for future French investments in Timor-Leste’s green and blue economies, with a potential positive impact in areas such as ecological tourism and sustainable agriculture.

The Head of State also praised France’s lasting commitment to multilateralism, as well as its cultural contributions through the Institut Français. Referring to his recent meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, Ramos-Horta expressed Timor-Leste’s appreciation for France’s firm stance against double standards in international relations, emphasizing that the credibility of the world order depends on the consistent application of its principles—values, he stated, that both countries share and defend with conviction.