According to Ambassador João Pereira, Vietnam occupies a distinctive geographic position, stretching from its northern border with China to its southern links with Southeast Asia. This location allows Vietnam to serve as an important bridge within ASEAN and creates opportunities, particularly in the economic sphere, for the region.

He noted that within ASEAN there are several strong economies such as Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, which are often regarded as the region’s “tigers”. Vietnam, he said, is also one of these “tigers” and stands among the important pillars of ASEAN.

Over recent decades, the Vietnamese economy has maintained rapid and stable growth, with GDP increasing by more than 7% annually. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows have also risen strongly. At the same time, the nation has recorded notable progress in economic development, human resources and infrastructure.

Pereira recalled that he first visited Vietnam in 2005 while working for a United Nations office, staying in the country for about two weeks.

In his view, the difference between Vietnam in 2005 and Vietnam in 2025 is striking. The economy, living standards and infrastructure have all changed significantly. For that reason, he said, Timor-Leste has much to learn from Vietnam.

The ambassador said Timor-Leste is working to expand cooperation with Vietnam in areas that benefit both countries. The two sides have signed a visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passports and completed several cooperation arrangements with Vietnamese agencies in fields including education, industry and trade, and communications.

Timor-Leste also plans to invite Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to pay an official visit to the country. In addition, the Timor-Leste side intends to invite outstanding young people and talented young intellectuals from Vietnam to visit Timor-Leste.

These visits are expected to create opportunities for additional cooperation agreements and practical cooperation activities in the future.

Vietnam is also preparing to establish an embassy in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, a step expected to contribute to stronger relations between the two countries.

One area of cooperation that has progressed quickly and produced practical results is telecommunications.

Since 2013, Vietnam’s Viettel Group has operated a telecommunications company in Timor-Leste under the Telemor brand. It is now the telecommunications provider with the widest coverage in the country, reaching about 96% of the population, including rural areas. Pereira highlighted this as one of the most successful cooperation models between the two nations.

Cooperation in education is also expanding. At present, around 80 Timor-Leste students are studying at universities in Vietnam. Some are enrolled at Thai Nguyen University, others at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and several at VinUniversity.

Many graduates have returned to Timor-Leste and are contributing to the country’s development.

Pereira said Timor-Leste is also promoting youth exchange programmes to strengthen understanding and cooperation between the two countries. Since he began his diplomatic mission in Vietnam, the programme titled “Future ASEAN Young Leaders Visit” has been introduced.

In 2024, Timor-Leste brought 10 young leaders to Vietnam for a 10-day visit to learn about the country’s economy, culture, traditions, as well as business and trade activities. During the visit, participants also met and spoke with several Vietnamese government officials.

In 2025, about 12 young leaders from Timor-Leste again travelled to Vietnam. In addition to Hanoi, they visited several other provinces and cities to observe how Vietnam’s economy operates, how people work and develop their livelihoods, and how cultural and social life evolves.

In the coming period, the programme is expected to include visits to Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang City and other localities. From 2026, the Future ASEAN Young Leaders programme may be organised annually to create more opportunities for young people to exchange ideas and learn from one another.

Pereira added that Timor-Leste is also working to introduce similar exchange programmes for Vietnamese youth, allowing them to travel to Timor-Leste to experience and explore the country.

According to the ambassador, Timor-Leste has a rich cultural identity with diverse traditions and a developing economy with considerable potential. The country also features impressive natural landscapes, including high mountains and beaches, offering opportunities for visitors to explore nature and learn about local cultural traditions.

Vietnam, Timor-Leste agree to deepen bilateral ties

Vietnam will continue to actively support Timor-Leste in effectively participating in and actively contributing to the ASEAN Community, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung affirmed on September 16.

Acting FM Le Hoai Trung meets ASEAN and Timor-Leste diplomats in Hanoi

VOV.VN - Acting Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung on September 11 received ambassadors and chargés d’affaires from ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste in Hanoi, who extended their congratulations on his appointment as Acting Foreign Minister of Vietnam.