Vientiane: Vice President Ms. Pany Yathortou recently received a farewell visit from Mr. Filomeno Aleixo da Cruz, the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Laos, at the Presidential Palace. The meeting marked the conclusion of Mr. Filomeno’s diplomatic mission in Laos, which has been instrumental in fostering bilateral relations between the two nations.

According to Lao News Agency, Ms. Pany extended her congratulations to Mr. Filomeno for successfully completing his mission and expressed gratitude for his efforts in enhancing the partnership between Laos and Timor-Leste. The Vice President highlighted the enduring friendship and collaboration that have flourished since the establishment of diplomatic ties on July 29, 2002. She cited significant examples of cooperation, including Timor-Leste’s humanitarian support of USD 750,000 to aid flood victims in Attapeu in 2018.

Ms. Pany also acknowledged Timor-Leste’s status as an ASEAN observer, granted in 2022, and shared her optimism for expanding both bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the coming years. She conveyed her belief that Mr. Filomeno will continue to advocate for collaboration in essential sectors such as economy, trade, tourism, agriculture, and oil and gas.

In his response, Mr. Filomeno expressed his appreciation to the Lao government and its citizens for their hospitality and support during his tenure. He reaffirmed his dedication to motivating Timor-Leste’s ministries to implement existing bilateral agreements and to further solidify the amicable relationship between the two countries.