At the invitation of President To Lam, Timor Leste President José Ramos-Horta will make a state visit to Vietnam from July 31 to August 3, according to a Foreign Ministry announcement today.

Vietnam and Timor Leste share a long-standing friendship. Vietnam was among the first countries to recognize the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN) in September 1975. Recently, relations between the two countries have seen significant developments.

The new Ambassador of Timor Leste, João Pereira, presented his credentials to President To Lam on June 18. During their meeting, President To Lam reaffirmed Vietnam's commitment to maintaining and enhancing its good cooperation with Timor Leste.

President To Lam noted that the bilateral relationship holds considerable potential for development in various fields, including agriculture, telecommunications, education, and oil and gas.

President To Lam expressed his desire for both countries to continue implementing existing agreements and signing new ones, encouraging investors from both nations to undertake joint projects and initiatives.

Ambassador João Pereira highlighted the benefits Timor Leste has gained from importing Vietnamese rice and from Viettel's information technology projects, which have provided mobile network coverage for 90% of Timor Leste's population.

In recent years, the trade volume between the two countries has decreased due to the impact of COVID-19, reaching 15.9 million USD in 2023 (with exports at 15.5 million USD and imports at 371.7 thousand USD).

Viettel currently has an investment project in Timor Leste, providing telecommunications services under the brand Telemor. Established on August 22, 2012, Telemor began offering services on July 10, 2013, with an initial investment of 500,000 USD, which has since increased to 10 million USD.

After 10 years of development, Telemor has significantly transformed Timor Leste's telecommunications sector, contributing to the country's overall development.

Additionally, the two countries have potential for cooperation in agriculture, oil and gas, fisheries, infrastructure development, and the exchange of agricultural products, textiles, consumer goods, industrial machinery, electrical equipment, education, culture, and tourism.

Both sides have agreed to continue strengthening cooperation and coordination at regional and international forums. Vietnam will continue to support Timor Leste in its preparation and capacity-building efforts to facilitate its official membership in ASEAN, in collaboration with other ASEAN countries and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Tran Thuong