Ramos-Horta made the remarks at a celebration marking Vietnam’s 81st National Day in Dili on September 29, hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy, its first such event since the mission began operations in April.

The president congratulated the State and people of Vietnam on their National Day and praised the country’s development, international integration and improvements in living standards over recent decades.

He said Vietnam’s experience in development and ASEAN integration could provide a useful reference for Timor-Leste as it continues its integration into the ASEAN Community.

Ramos-Horta also highlighted Vietnam’s role as a trusted partner in Timor-Leste’s food security and welcomed the contribution of Vietnamese businesses, particularly Viettel through Telemor and Mosan digital financial services, to telecommunications, digital connectivity and access to financial services.

He also welcomed Vietnam’s scholarship, training and technical exchange programmes and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in agriculture, trade, investment, education, human-resource development, digital transformation and energy.

Resident embassy opens new channel for cooperation

The celebration took place on the same day that Ambassador Pham Binh Dam presented his credentials to President Ramos-Horta, formally beginning his tenure as Vietnam’s first resident ambassador to Timor-Leste. The Vietnamese Embassy in Dili began operations in April 2026.

In his remarks, Dam affirmed Vietnam is ready to share its development experience and support Timor-Leste’s national construction and ASEAN integration.

He said the establishment of a resident Vietnamese diplomatic mission in Dili would create better conditions for translating bilateral agreements into concrete programmes and projects, while opening more opportunities for people and businesses in both countries.

Dam also highlighted similarities between the two countries, including their appreciation of independence and self-reliance and their aspirations for peace and prosperity.

Cooperation extends from food security to digital transformation

Ramos-Horta’s remarks come as bilateral ties have expanded across a range of areas, including agriculture, food security, telecommunications, education and digital development. Timor-Leste’s state news agency Tatoli has described the establishment of Vietnam’s first resident embassy as a further step in expanding bilateral cooperation.

The president said Timor-Leste values Vietnam’s support in food security and human-resource development and wants to broaden cooperation in areas with direct socio-economic benefits.

Vietnam has also pledged to share agricultural expertise and support Timor-Leste’s efforts to strengthen food security. Earlier this year, Vietnamese officials offered to support both agricultural supply and longer-term development of Timor-Leste’s farming sector.

Shared emphasis on international law

On regional and international issues, Ramos-Horta said the two countries attach importance to international law, peace, stability and security.

He underscored the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He also supported the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, known internationally as South China Sea (DOC) and substantive negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the regional waters (COC).

The celebration brought together representatives of the Timor-Leste Government, diplomatic missions, international organisations, businesses and the Vietnamese community.

The event came ahead of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Timor-Leste in 2027. The two countries established diplomatic ties on July 28, 2002.