PM Lawrence Wong at the Official Lunch Hosted in Honour of Timor-Leste's PM Xanana Gusmão

Your Excellency Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão
Excellencies and
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Gusmão back to Singapore.

The Prime Minister has long-standing ties with us.

We remember well your many contributions to Timor-Leste’s journey – fighting for independence, unifying the country, and guiding your people through the early years of nation-building.

During your last Official Visit in 2013, we had the honour of naming an orchid after you. It continues to thrive today – a fitting symbol of how the friendship between our countries has blossomed over the years.

Singapore is proud to be a partner of Timor-Leste.

We stood together in solidarity even before your independence. In 1999, Singapore was one of the first countries to contribute personnel to the peacekeeping taskforce – International Force East Timor.

Over a thousand Singapore personnel worked and served alongside the Timorese people over the next decade – providing humanitarian assistance, building institutions, and supporting your nation’s transition to peace and stability.

I am glad that some of them are here with us for the lunch today.

Our bilateral ties have grown steadily since.

Singapore opened our Embassy in Dili last year – a reflection of our commitment to deeper engagement.

Our economic links are expanding. Singapore companies are exploring opportunities in hospitality, real estate and other sectors.

We resumed direct flights and implemented a Mutual Visa Waiver Agreement last year – moves that will bring our people closer together.

Our partnership in human resource development has also evolved to meet Timor-Leste’s changing needs.

Since 2002, more than 1,100 Timorese officials have participated in courses under the Singapore Cooperation Programme – building capabilities across a range of areas from public administration to language and communications.

In 2022, we launched the specially customised Singapore-Timor-Leste ASEAN Readiness Support – or STARS – package, to empower Timorese officials with the knowledge and skills needed for ASEAN membership.

Timor-Leste’s upcoming accession to ASEAN is a significant milestone, both for your country and for ASEAN. Singapore looks forward to welcoming you warmly to the ASEAN family. And we will continue to stand with you on this journey.

That is why today we are pleased to launch an enhanced STARS package. It will include:

Tailored support to facilitate Timor-Leste’s accession to key ASEAN Agreements;

Specialised training in areas aligned with your national priorities; and

Leadership development programmes and scholarships for your next generation of leaders.

Let me also thank Prime Minister Gusmão and the Government of Timor-Leste for your unique gift of 60 sandalwood saplings for Singapore’s 60th year of independence.

These saplings are a powerful symbol of how our two countries can grow and thrive together in the years ahead – both bilaterally and in ASEAN.

I assure you that Singapore will take good care of the saplings and make sure they grow into strong and sturdy trees; befitting of the enduring friendship between our two countries.

In the same way, we will continue working with Timor-Leste and Prime Minister Gusmão to strengthen our partnership and bring it to even greater heights.

So Excellencies, distinguished guests, may I now offer a toast:

To the good health and success of His Excellency President José Ramos-Horta

To the good health and success of Prime Minister Gusmão;

And to the peace and prosperity of Timor-Leste, and to the enduring friendship between our two countries.

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