By GINNAH MINI
THE President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta has expressed interest in opening an embassy in Papua New Guinea (PNG) during a successful bilateral meeting with Prime Minister, James Marape yesterday.
Prime Minister Marape said that PNG will also open an embassy in Timor-Leste while noting that this is the first time the two countries are visiting each other in a bilateral capacity.
Mr. Marape note the similarities the two countries shares in terms of mineral resources, agricultural resources and physical traits with the Melanesian people.
“We discussed on what separates us: trade relationships, people to people exchange and His Excellency has indicated
his nation’s interest to open an embassy here,” Mr. Marape said.
“I also indicated our nation’s interest to open an embassy there (Timor-Leste).”
Mr. Marape added that President Ramos-Horta has pledged his nation’s support for PNG in a bid to be a member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
President Ramos-Horta will take part in the Ocean conference hosted in Port Moresby.
He has also invited Mr. Marape to be part of the Blue Economy Conference in Timor-Leste next month.
President Ramos-Horta said that he will visit PNG again to enhance the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
“We look forward to enhance the bilateral relationship with Papua New Guinea, we have a greater respect for your people, your leadership, and I pay tribute to your founding leader,” Dr. Ramos-Horta said.
Prime Minister Marape said that PNG is no longer living in isolation: PNG relates to other nations in regards to burdens, success and today was historic as Timor-Leste will be on its way to relate to the bilateral relationship formed.
“We are sealing our two nations through bilateral relationship: we’ll allocate land and space here (in PNG) and likewise they’ll allocate land and space in Dili (for the embassy),” Mr. Marape said.
Mr. Marape added that what the two countries are doing is a construct of the people of going forward into the future.