Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta in Hanoi on August 2, 2024.

They agreed to intensify political trust through all-level meetings, effectively implement high-level agreements, continue pushing ahead with the perfection of legal frameworks to facilitate the bilateral cooperation, and optimise their substantial cooperation potential.

PM Chinh lauded Timor-Leste’s resolve and effort in implementing its roadmap for full ASEAN membership, and affirmed Vietnam’s consistent support for the country in this regard.

He said rice remains a key product of bilateral trade, and suggested the two sides soon extend or sign a new MoU on rice trade, contributing to ensuring food security.

Mr. Chinh encouraged Timor-Leste to increase the import of Vietnamese goods such as textiles-garments, footwear, beverages, dairy products, processed food, and agricultural and aquatic products.

The PM suggested Timor-Leste soon handle obstacles to the operation of Vietnamese enterprises in the country, and create optimal conditions for them to expand business, especially in telecoms, digital services, and oil and gas exploitation.

President Ramos-Horta said he hopes that Vietnam will help his country in agriculture, food security, infrastructure, education-training, human resources development, health care, and poverty reduction.

He said Timor-Leste stands ready to back Vietnam’s candidacy for posts at all multilateral, regional and international mechanisms and organizations.

The two sides were committed to continuing their support for ASEAN’s principled stance on the East Sea, efforts in maintaining peace, stability, security and safety of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, the settlement of disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), creating an environment conducive to negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), for peace, stability and development in the region.