Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão during an official visit to Malaysia on December 2nd, 2024, at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. (Government of Timor-Leste)
Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta just concluded a five-day official state visit to Malaysia, from 13 to 17 June, with both governments devoting significant attention to advancing bilateral relations in strategic sectors and regional affairs.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed his Timorese counterpart on June 16 during a private luncheon in Kuala Lumpur, noting that the visit “strengthens mutually beneficial cooperation for the welfare of both peoples”.
He said the two leaders exchanged views on expanding collaboration in trade, investment, human resource development, education and technical training, while exploring new opportunities for sustainable growth and opening “spaces for development for younger generations from both countries”.
In response, President Ramos-Horta also expressed gratitude for Malaysia’s support in Timor-Leste’s past bid to become a permanent member of ASEAN. Both leaders exchanged ideas regarding Timor-Leste’s struggle to attract investment. Malaysia also reaffirmed its full support ahead of the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN in 2029, pledging investment in the hospitality and travel services as a prerequisite for hosting the high-level summit.
Ramos‑Horta also attended the launch of The Rising Sun: Timor‑Leste’s Journey to Peace and Development, a book authored by Dr. Murni Wan Mohd Nor and Nurul Farhah Ab Aziz. Separately, he delivered a speech under the theme “Navigating Turbulent Times, Pursuing Peace” at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), a Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia think tank.
In his remarks, he underlined the challenges of living in a world “changing faster than ever—shaped by artificial intelligence, climate disruption,and geopolitical tensions—it is easy to lose our moral bearings”. He stressed the need for the values that guided the spirit of independence to remain a compass: “courage to speak truth to power, empathy for the suffering of others, resilience in the face of defeat and an unshakable commitment to human dignity.”
He reaffirmed that both countries’ strength lay “not by armies or algorithms, but by leaders and citizens who refuse to abandon what is right for what is easy”.
Prior to meeting the Malaysian Prime Minister, President Ramos-Horta visited Taylor’s University to speak at a dialogue entitled, “A Changing World, Enduring Values”. On the same day, he also met Helen Todd, the mother of Kamal Ahmed Bamadhaj, who was killed during the Dili Massacre in 1991, pledging to grant him a posthumous award in recognition of his sacrifice.
These bilateral relations reflect Malaysia’s active role in the regional affairs, particularly during its ASEAN chairship in 2025, navigating regional fragmentation and accepting the new membership of a fellow Southeast Asian neighbor. Furthermore, Timor-Leste administration’s foreign visits represent its effort to deepen diplomatic ties with ASEAN member states and diversify its economic relations, while showing a shared commitment to regional cooperation, economic ties and peacebuilding.
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