ERIA Hosts President José Ramos-Horta to Deepen Co-operation and Support Timor-Leste's ASEAN Priorities

Jakarta, 6 June 2026: Following the fourth Leadership Lecture delivered by H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, ERIA hosted a high-level courtesy meeting with the President to strengthen co-operation and discuss support for Timor-Leste's regional priorities.

President Ramos-Horta was accompanied by a distinguished delegation, including H.E. Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Indonesia, and H.E. Elisa Maria da Silva, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to ASEAN. ERIA's delegation was led by Dr Takayuki Yamanaka, Chief Operating Officer, and Prof. Nobuhiro Aizawa, Dean and Managing Director of the ERIA School of Government, together with senior experts representing ERIA's economic, energy, environment, agriculture, marine plastic debris, health, and capacity-building programmes.

Discussions focused on Timor-Leste's engagement in ASEAN and broader regional co-operation. During the meeting, ERIA and the Timor-Leste delegation exchanged views on regional developments and areas of mutual interest. ERIA also introduced its ongoing work across a range of sectors and shared perspectives drawn from its experience in supporting ASEAN Chairships .

President Ramos-Horta emphasised that the Government of Timor-Leste, under the leadership of the Prime Minister's Office, is committed to ensuring a successful ASEAN Chairship in 2029. He expressed appreciation for ERIA's continued partnership and acknowledged the institute's contribution to strengthening Timor-Leste's policy readiness and engagement within the region.

The meeting concluded with a productive discussion on supporting Timor-Leste's engagement in ASEAN and preparations for its anticipated ASEAN Chairship in 2029. Both sides welcomed the opportunity to exchange views and strengthen mutual understanding on issues of regional importance.