Seoul: East Timor's top diplomat plans to visit Seoul next week for talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on ways to expand bilateral cooperation in the economy, security, and a range of other sectors, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the visit by East Timorese Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas will mark the first official trip to South Korea by an East Timorese top diplomat since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 2002. During talks scheduled for Monday, Cho and Freitas will discuss cooperation in the economy, development, security, and international affairs. They will also explore ways to implement the vision for the comprehensive strategic partnership between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Timor-Leste became ASEAN's 11th member in October 2025, further solidifying its role in regional affairs. "The upcoming talks are expected to provide an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral ties and explore ways to deepen cooperation between South Korea and ASEAN," ministry spokesperson Park Il said at a press briefing.