Bilateral Ties Strengthened: Anwar Hosts Luncheon for Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister
A Warm Welcome
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today hosted an official luncheon in honour of his visiting counterpart, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão of Timor Leste. Xanana Gusmão, who is on his first official visit to Malaysia, arrived at the Prime Minister’s official residence at 11:15 am.
A Lighthearted Moment
Before the luncheon, the two leaders shared a lighthearted moment, swaying to the popular song ‘Dia Datang’, famously performed by Datuk Wan Aishah Wan Ariffin, better known as Aishah in the early 2000s. Anwar requested the song to be replayed after noticing how much Xanana Gusmão enjoyed the melody.
Bilateral Meeting
The luncheon was attended by the Timorese delegation, as well as Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Earlier, Anwar and Xanana Gusmão held a bilateral meeting, discussing regional and international issues of mutual interest. Topics included trade and investment, the halal industry, education, capacity-building, and connectivity.
Economic Ties
In 2023, Malaysia’s total bilateral trade with Timor-Leste reached US$43.7 million (RM196.7 million). Malaysia exported US$43.3 million (RM195 million) worth of goods, while imports from Timor-Leste totalled US$0.4 million (RM1.7 million).
Conclusion
The official luncheon and bilateral meeting have further strengthened the ties between Malaysia and Timor-Leste, marking an important milestone in the countries’ diplomatic relations. The discussions on trade and investment, halal industry, education, capacity-building, and connectivity have paved the way for future cooperation and collaboration between the two nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the purpose of the official luncheon?
The official luncheon was held to strengthen the bilateral ties between Malaysia and Timor-Leste, and to discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest. - Who was the guest of honour at the luncheon?
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, was the guest of honour at the luncheon. - What were the topics discussed during the bilateral meeting?
The topics discussed during the bilateral meeting included trade and investment, the halal industry, education, capacity-building, and connectivity.