Vietnamese Embassy in Timor-Leste officially begins operations

On April 12, Vietnamese Chargé d'Affaires to Timor-Leste Pham Binh Dam had a meeting with Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive developments in bilateral relations in recent years.

Viet Nam's official opening of its embassy in Dili is considered an important milestone, contributing to deepening and enhancing the effectiveness and substance of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, for the benefit of their peoples as well as for ASEAN solidarity and development, they noted.

That same day, the Embassy of Viet Nam in Timor-Leste sent a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, the diplomatic corps, and international organizations in Dili, announcing that the embassy officially begun operations.

The official launch of the Vietnamese Embassy in Timor-Leste takes place as Timor-Leste has become the 11th member of ASEAN. Viet Nam continues to affirm its support and readiness to share experience, contributing to Timor-Leste's deeper regional integration and its active role within ASEAN.

Previously, the Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia had been concurrently responsible for Timor-Leste while Timor-Leste has maintained its embassy in Ha Noi since April 2012.

The relations between Viet Nam and Timor-Leste have been built on a foundation of strong friendship. Viet Nam was among the first countries to recognize the Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor-Leste (FRETILIN) in 1975. The two countries officially established diplomatic relations on July 28, 2002.

Over the past two decades, bilateral relations have been continuously strengthened via high-level visits, and cooperation across multiple sectors has been stepped up./.