Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation visited the CPLP headquarters
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT OF THE COMMUNITY OF PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE COUNTRIES (CPLP)
His Excellency Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, in his capacity as Acting President of the Council of Ministers of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), conducted an official visit to the CPLP headquarters in Lisbon this Thursday, January 15.
Upon arrival at the Palácio Conde de Penafiel, the head of Timorese diplomacy was received by Her Excellency Ambassador Maria de Fátima Jardim, Executive Secretary of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), with whom he held a private meeting.
Following the private encounter, a solemn session took place, during which Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas met with the Executive Secretary of the CPLP and the Permanent Representatives of the Member States accredited to the organization.
This working meeting was dedicated to matters of common interest and the monitoring of key dossiers on the community agenda.
In this regard, the holder of the Timorese diplomacy portfolio provided general information on the lines of action and priorities that Timor-Leste intends to develop over the next eighteen months, within the scope of its mandate as the CPLP Pro Tempore Presidency.
Among the topics addressed during the session were matters related to the institutional functioning of the Community, with a focus on the restructuring and modernization process of the organization.
This aims to strengthen it as an instrument for political dialogue and multilateral cooperation, as well as to reinforce the ties of solidarity and proximity between Member States.
During the session, the Minister proceeded with the delivery of the instrument of ratification of the Revision of the CPLP Statutes, which was approved by a Resolution of the CPLP Council of Ministers in Luanda on March 27, 2023.
On this occasion, he reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s commitment to the consolidation and affirmation of the Community, within the framework of the rotating Presidency assumed following the suspension of Guinea-Bissau from all CPLP activities.
This decision was reached by consensus among Member States during the I Extraordinary Conference of Heads of State and Government on December 16, 2025.
On the political level, the situation in Guinea-Bissau received particular attention. In this context, Timor-Leste expressed concern regarding the current political situation prevailing in the country, calling for the urgent restoration of constitutional order and the official publication by the National Elections Commission of the general election results from November 23, 2025, in accordance with the regional legislative tallies.
Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas also considered that the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained following the crisis of November 26, 2025, represents an essential requirement for the re-establishment of democratic normalcy.
In this sense, Ambassador Maria de Fátima Jardim reaffirmed the good offices mission and the permanent monitoring of the situation in Guinea-Bissau, reiterating the support of the CPLP and the Acting Presidency for the Bissau-Guinean people, aiming for institutional stability, political dialogue, and respect for democratic principles.
In the economic framework, the Executive Secretary evoked the importance of strengthening the Economic Cooperation pillar of the CPLP, focusing on trade, employment, and vocational training, as well as revitalizing structural dimensions such as food security, culture, education, and the dissemination of the Portuguese language.
Ambassador Fátima Jardim further mentioned the value of the participation of Associate Observers as strategic partners in mobilizing initiatives and resources to fulfill the organization’s objectives.
Regarding international projection and external cooperation opportunities, His Excellency Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas shared information on Timor-Leste’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), formalized on October 26 of last year.
On this matter, the Executive Secretary of the CPLP noted the importance of Timor-Leste within the contemporary geostreategic and geopolitical framework, as well as its contribution to the organization’s program of activities.
At the conclusion of the visit, Minister Bendito Freitas signed the CPLP Honor Book and delivered statements to the press present at the Organization’s headquarters.
In December 2025, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) decided to elect Timor-Leste to assume the temporary presidency of the organization.
This decision came in response to the political situation in Guinea-Bissau, which was the country holding the rotating CPLP presidency, but whose participation was suspended following the interruption of the electoral process in that country.
The temporary presidency will extend until 2027, creating space to enhance cooperation among Lusophone countries and reinforce the relevance of the CPLP in political and economic matters, as well as solidarity between Member States.
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT OF THE COMMUNITY OF PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE COUNTRIES (CPLP), Lisbon, January 15, 2026.
https://www.cplp.org/noticias/noticias-detalhe/?id=23715