Dili, January 30 (AseanAll)  — On January 30, 2026, The President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, J. Ramos-Horta, received the Ambassador of Austria to Timor-Leste, Dr. Thomas Loidl,  at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace for a farewell meeting, marking the conclusion of his four-year mandate in the country.

During the audience, both parties celebrated the significant deepening of bilateral relations, marked by the opening of an Austrian Consulate in Dili and the establishment of new partnerships in the field of education. These initiatives have enabled the integration of the National University of Timor-Leste into the ASEAN university framework and provided specialized training for Timorese students at the prestigious Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.

The conversation also addressed strategic regional progress, including Timor-Leste’s successful accession to ASEAN and its future chairmanship in 2029. Ambassador Loidl praised the country’s diplomatic advancements and shared his positive assessment of the recent high-level talks between the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister of Australia. He particularly highlighted the transformative economic potential of the Greater Sunrise pipeline project for the coast of Timor-Leste, envisioning a future of industrial growth and energy security for the nation.

In the context of strengthening international cooperation, the Ambassador extended a formal invitation to President Ramos-Horta to participate in a high-level ministerial conference on interfaith dialogue, to be held in Vienna later this year. The President expressed his deep gratitude for the Ambassador’s dedicated service and significant contributions to the country’s development over the past four years.

Dr. Loidl concluded his visit by stating that, although his diplomatic mission has come to an end, he will remain a long-time friend of Timor-Leste and hopes to return to explore the country’s beauty as a tourist.