President Murmu arrives in Timor-Leste to strengthen bilateral ties

In a first-ever visit from India to Timor-Leste, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in the Southeast Asian nation on Saturday to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries, building on the momentum established earlier this year.

This visit comes seven months after the President of Timor-Leste visited India and attended the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January of this year. Murmu arrived here on the last leg of her three-nation visit which also took her to New Zealand and Fiji.

”President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Dili, Timor-Leste on the last leg of her three-nation visit,” the President’s Office said in a post on X.

President Jose Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste warmly received the President at the airport. Cheerful children greeted her on the way from the airport.

In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, ”Furthering the Delhi-Dili connect! President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn arrived in Dili for the first-ever Head of State level visit from India to Timor-Leste. In a special gesture, President @JoseRamosHorta1 of Timor-Leste warmly received President Murmu at the airport” During the visit, apart from the bilateral meeting with President Jose Ramos-Horta, there will also be a meeting with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who will call on Murmu.

This is the first-ever presidential visit from India to Timor-Leste, a Southeast Asian nation. The president will also attend a community reception with the Indians in Timor-Leste and Friends of India, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Before this, President Murmu visited New Zealand, setting a new landmark in bilateral partnership.

Timor Leste supports India’s permanent membership in the UNSC. This was formally announced by PM Alkatiri in 2003 at the UNGA. The country also supported India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat during 2011-12. It has backed India’s candidacies for various UN positions