East Timor leader begins official visit

An East Timor, delegation led by President Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao will begin an official visit to Vietnam today, August 8, marking a step in co-operation between the two countries.

President of East Timor, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao.

An East Timor , delegation led by President Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao will begin an official visit to Vietnam today, August 8, marking a step in co-operation between the two countries.

The visit is made at the invitation of President Tran Duc Luong. This is the first visit to Vietnam by an East Timor President since the state was established on May 20, 2002 .

The visit is aimed at promoting bilateral co-operation in many fields including economic and trade.

The delegation will meet and talk with President Tran Duc Luong at the Presidential Palace today. During the three-day visit, the delegation will also meet Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An and visit some historic areas.

Relations were initially established between the two countries when Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam joined the East Timor Independent Declaration Ceremony at the invitation of the United Nations General Secretary Kofi Annan Vietnam between May 19-20, 2002 .

On July 28, 2002 , Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Jose Ramos Horta on behalf of the two governments signed a joint communique to establish a diplomatic relationship between the two countries in Brunei .

East Timor Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Jose Ramos Horta paid an official visit to Vietnam in March, 2003.

To promote trade relationships between the two countries, a Vietnamese trade ministry delegation met with leaders of East Timor ministries on August 19-22, 2003 .

The delegation established that Vietnamese enterprises could register businesses in East Timor and export agricultural products and boost advertising for Vietnamese products in the country.

In December, 2003, an East Timor sport delegation took part in the 22nd Seagames organised in Vietnam . Vietnam sponsored 50% of costs for the delegation.