Dili, January 26 (AseanAll) — The President of the Republic, J. Ramos-Horta, received the Portuguese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Duarte Bué Alves, at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace on January 26, 2026 for a comprehensive analysis of bilateral relations and relevant international current affairs.
During the meeting, the Ambassador conveyed New Year greetings to the Timorese people and congratulated the Head of State on his recent diplomatic engagements at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The meeting highlighted the “special and reciprocal” nature of the relationship between Timor-Leste and Portugal, with particular emphasis on Timor-Leste’s recent leadership in assuming the Presidency of the CPLP following the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau.
The discussion also touched upon the shared democratic values of both countries, with Ambassador Duarte Bué Alves praising Timor-Leste’s “remarkable journey” and the progress achieved since the restoration of independence. Both parties exchanged views on the current presidential elections in Portugal and the upcoming electoral cycles in Timor-Leste, while reaffirming their common concern for the restoration of constitutional order and respect for human rights in Guinea-Bissau. The Ambassador emphasized that the political synergy between Dili and Lisbon remains one of the fundamental pillars of international cooperation between the two nations.
A key point of the meeting was the positive performance of the Strategic Cooperation Program 2024–2028, which is currently in full implementation. The Ambassador announced that 2026 is expected to see a record number of 145 Portuguese teachers serving in CAFE schools across all 14 municipalities, working in close partnership with approximately 200 Timorese educators.
Looking ahead, the Presidency of the Republic and the Embassy of Portugal reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the CAFE project beyond its current scope, reinforcing education and human capital development as central pillars of the partnership between Timor-Leste and Portugal.
