Speaking at the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the opening of India’s embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste.
“Act East in action – Delhi to Dili! At the ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta, PM @narendramodi announces decision to open our Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste,” posted Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi on X after PM Modi’s announcement.
The capital of Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, is Dili, which is located on its northern coast. The city is significant because it commemorates the country’s battles for independence from Indonesia and Portugal. A high-level delegation led by the then-minister of state for external affairs attended Timor Leste’s Independence Day celebrations in May 2002. India was one of the first nations to establish diplomatic relations with Timor Leste. On January 24, 2003, an MOU establishing formal diplomatic ties was signed.
India’s decision to open an embassy in Dilli its commitment to the Act East policy.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi said that ASEAN is the central pillar of India’s Act East policy and it has an important place in India’s Indo-Pacific initiative. He also termed the engagement with the ASEAN group as an important pillar of India’s ‘Act East Policy’.
“Our history and geography unite India and ASEAN. Along with it, our shared values, regional integration, and our shared belief in peace, prosperity and a multipolar world also unite us. ASEAN is the central pillar of India’s Act East Policy. India supports ASEAN’s outlook on ASEAN-India centrality and Indo-Pacific,” PM Modi said in his address in Hindi.