MFA Press Statement: Visit of Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Security of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, 30 May to 5 June 2013

Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Security of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, will make an official visit to Singapore on 3 – 5 June 2013 at the invitation of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. This is preceded by a working visit on 30 May – 2 June 2013 to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue. This will be Prime Minister Gusmão’s first official visit to Singapore.

During his visit, Prime Minister Gusmão will call on President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee. In addition, Prime Minister Lee will host Prime Minister Gusmão to an official dinner. Both Prime Ministers will also witness the signing of an Air Services Agreement between Singapore and Timor-Leste. Given the expansion of Timor-Leste’s oil and gas industry, Prime Minister Gusmão will visit Jurong Island and be briefed on Singapore’s oil and gas processing facilities. He is also scheduled to deliver public lectures at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies under its Distinguished World Leaders Lecture series on the topic of “Timor-Leste’s Role and Future in a Rising Asia-Pacific”, as well as at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy on the topic of “Peace Building and State Building: From Fragility to Resilience”.

Prime Minister Gusmão will be accompanied by Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation José Luis Guterres, Minister of Finance Emilia Pires, Minister of Transport and Communications Pedro Lay da Silva, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Alfredo Pires, Secretary of State for Defence Julio Tomas Pinto, Secretary of State for ASEAN Affairs Roberto Soares and senior officials from the Timor-Leste government.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
30 MAY 2013