East Timor Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas attends the 57th Association of southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Plenary Meeting session in Vientiane on July 25, 2024. (Photo by Sai Aung MAIN / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas will visit the Philippines from August 19 to 21, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo will meet dos Santos Freitas “to discuss the current state of the bilateral and multilateral relationships between the Philippines and Timor-Leste,” the agency said on Saturday.
Both countries will “exchange views on regional and international developments” during dos Santos Freitas’ first official visit to the Philippines since assuming his role in 2023, the DFA added.
Citing reports, the DFA said Asean leaders have agreed, in principle, to admit Timor-Leste as its 11th member and have granted the state observer status.
“The Philippines welcomes Timor-Leste’s progress in implementing the Roadmap towards Timor-Leste’s full membership to ASEAN and supports Timor-Leste’s efforts in this regard,” the DFA said.