It was the first ministerial-level visit from India to Timor-Leste since 2018
Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh who is on a four-day (September 30-October 3) visit to Timor-Leste, on Saturday called on Southeast Asian nation’s President Jose Ramos Horta and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
 
“Extremely fruitful meeting of MoS Ranjan Singh with Mr Jose Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste, today. Discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral ties through cooperation in health, trade, oil and gas sector, capacity building & food security,” Indian Embassy in Jakarta which is concurrently accredited to Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste said in a post on X.
 
In the course of his four-day visit to Dili, the capital city of the Southeast Asian country, Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh is expected to meet Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas and Trade and Industry Minister Filipus Nino Pereira.
 
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, MoS Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh will additionally meet in Timor-Leste, heads of some United Nations agencies and bodies.
 
He will also interact with members of the Indian community and take part in Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the decision to establish a resident Mission in Dili, Timor-Leste at the ASEAN-India Summit on September 7, 2023.
 
The visit of MoS Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh further reflects the significance attached by India to its relations with Timor-Leste, the MEA said.
 
Timor-Leste, which is also called East Timor, aims to become an ASEAN member by 2025. Sitting astride Southeast Asia and South Pacific,   Timor-Leste is blessed with an estimated 5.1 trillion cubic feet of gas and 226 million barrels of condensate, a type of light crude oil usually found with gas, Reuters said.