(AseanAll)  —  On July 5, 2024, Timor-Leste President J. Ramos-Horta, accompanied by Mozambican President Jacinto Nyusi and their respective delegations, held a State visit ceremony, being received with a military parade at the Presidential Palace in Maputo, Mozambique. 

After the ceremony, the two heads of state had a private conversation followed by a bilateral meeting to strengthen cooperation between Timor-Leste and Mozambique.

During the bilateral meeting between Head of State J. Ramos Horta and Head of State F. Jacinto Nyusi, the signing of agreements on Memoranda of Understanding with the Mozambican Government was also witnessed, establishing cooperation in three important areas, including oil and gas exploration (Hydrocarbons and Petroleum).

The agreement was signed between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, Bendito Freitas, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique, Verônia Mocamo. 

These three Memoranda of Understanding, the first concerning the establishment of a permanent mechanism for diplomatic political consultation, are still under technical discussion. The second Memorandum of Understanding is on higher education, science and technology, and the last is on oil and hydrocarbon exploration.

Other topics discussed included areas of education, health, agriculture, human capital development, including multilateral cooperation at the level of the United Nations and other multilateral organizations where Timor-Leste and Mozambique can assist each other.

After this Agreement, the two Heads of State also held a press conference for the media in the Presidential Conference Hall. In his speech, the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Jacinto Filipe Nyusi, asked Timor-Leste to share its experience regarding the management of sovereign funds or petroleum funds. Timor-Leste’s extractive industry is already advanced, which is why the Mozambican Head of State asked the Government of Timor-Leste to form a joint technical team to share experiences in this sector.

In his speech, Ramos-Horta also asked Mozambique, which is a coastal nation in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), along with Portugal, Brazil and Angola, including other CPLP member nations, to open or establish an Embassy in Timor-Leste, thus further consolidating relations and cooperation between member states.

After the bilateral meeting, Ramos-Horta and the delegation also visited the National Heroes Monument in the center of Maputo city to pay tribute to Mozambique’s national heroes.