During her address in Timor-Leste on Saturday, President Droupadi Murmu announced that India will soon establish an embassy in the country as part of the expanding India-Timor-Leste partnership. Murmu, who arrived in Timor-Leste after visits to Fiji and New Zealand, noted that the new embassy will provide consular services to Indians residing in Timor-Leste and improve communication between the two governments.
“As a part of our friendship, we will soon open an embassy in Timor-Leste. This will help in streamlining of consular and other services for Indians living in the country. This will also help in improving communication between the governments of both countries,” Murmu made the announcement while speaking at a State Banquet hosted by Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta at Palacio Nobre De Lohane.
She emphasised the importance of strengthening the ties between India and Timor-Leste and enhancing the ‘Delhi – Dili’ connection. She also affirmed India’s commitment to partnering with Timor-Leste on its path to progress and development.
“India and Timor-Leste’s friendship is based on the same views on pluralism and sovereignty. Timor-Leste achieved independence recently. It is demographically young. The challenges faced by this nation are similar to India’s,” she said.
She added that Timor-Leste is among the most vibrant democracies.
“Today, Timor-Leste is carving out its own destiny. It is considered one of the most vibrant democracies of Southeast Asia, and this is a testimony to the courage, resilience and bravery of the Timorese people who have achieved this,” Murmu said.
She highlighted that India was one of the first countries to recognise Timor-Leste’s independence in 2002 and to establish political relations with the newly independent nation.
“India was one of the earliest countries to recognise Timor-Leste as an independent country in 2002, and in these 22 years, Timor-Leste has stood out as a shining beacon of democracy and pluralism. Sisters and brothers, India was among the first to establish political ties with Timor-Leste,” she said.
Murmu thanked Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta for awarding her the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the nation’s highest civilian honour.
“I am grateful to Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta for his candid talks with me. His dedication shows how close he holds India to his heart, and this love for India is of utmost importance to us. His act of conferring the Grand-Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the country’s highest civilian award on Saturday shows his feelings of friendship towards the nation,” Murmu said.
She reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening this partnership and expressed a wish to further develop robust relations with both the Timor-Leste government and its people.