Dili, 20 ^th November of 2018: H.E. Prime-Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, welcoming the visiting of the Australian Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Anne Ruston, accompanied by the Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Peter Roberts, on Tuesday, in Palacio do Governo, in Dili.

During the meeting, the Executive Head and the Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific were discussing on jointly cooperation between the two countries in future by strengthening the current relationship.

As the Department of Foreigner Affairs and Commerce (DFAT) published in its portal, the visit of the Assistant Minister to Timor-Leste from 20^th to 22^nd of November, followed the visit of Julie Bishop the Minister of Foreigners Affairs on July and the historic signing of the treaty of maritime boundary on March of this year.

The aim of this visit is to meet the authority of Timor-Leste’s State and Government in order to discuss, deeply and largely, the partnership development of the two countries and the commitment of Australia in providing more support to Timor-Leste.

The partnership between Australia and Timor-Leste is old and substantial, since for this year alone, Australia has provided more than AUD $ 91 million in assistance for development.

The new Government of Prime-Minister Morrison is committed to upgrade this relationship with Timor-Leste Government to a new chapter.

During her presence in Dili, the Assistant Minister will also visit the development projects which are funded by the Australian Government to observe directly the benefits of these projects to Timorese. END