President of Timor-Leste Dr. José Ramos-Horta and Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus expressed satisfaction over steadily growing relations between the two countries and Bangladesh underscored the need for tapping available synergies and increased economic engagements.
They appreciated signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 'Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM)' and an agreement on the 'Exemption from Visa Requirement for the Diplomatic and Official or Service Passport holders' during the visit, said a joint communique issued on Tuesday.
During the Timor president's visit, the two sides explored the possibility of advancing bilateral cooperation between the two nations in the fields of trade and investment, air services, cultural exchange, education, professional and diplomatic training, disaster management, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and poverty alleviation through ways including microfinance and microcredit.
The above-mentioned fields of cooperation will be further discussed between the two governments through the agreed Bilateral Consultation Mechanism, the joint communique said.
Both sides discussed the following potential areas of cooperation i.e. food security, health and nutrition, agricultural cooperation including contract farming, livestock and veterinary science, deep-sea fishing and aquaculture, ICT, tourism, Bangladeshi diaspora, and other regional and international issues of common interest.
Both the leaders also highlighted exchange of higher educational experience through student exchange, faculty exchange, research projects and joint masters and doctoral programmes.
Around 200-300 Bangladeshi nationals are currently living in Timor-Leste.
Both the leaders discussed the possibility of issuing a long-term stay permit (Permanent Residency) and Work Permit for the Bangladeshi expatriates living in Timor-Leste in accordance with the law.
Both the leaders emphasised the importance of joint efforts in addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges such as climate change, food security, green energy, human trafficking and transnational crime.
Bangladesh sought Timor-Leste's support for repatriation of the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) staying in Bangladesh. Bangladesh urged Timor Leste's active role in the international and regional fora for immediate return of the FDMNs from Bangladesh. Both agreed that the solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis was lying with Myanmar.
The two leaders acknowledged the importance of coordinated actions for common objectives within international organizations such as the United Nations (UN). They committed to jointly supporting initiatives to strengthen and support sustainable development and climate actions, international peace and security, protecting human rights, international justice and promoting economic and social progress.
Both the leaders expressed grave concern over the situation in the Middle East; tragedies in Palestine, carpet bombing of Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and emphasized the importance of addressing issues of human rights and humanitarian concerns of the international community.
Both the countries unwaveringly support a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the right of the peoples of Palestine and Israel to live side by side in peace, with dignity, and in safety within the pre-1967 borders.
Timor-Leste and Bangladesh support initiatives that uphold the principles of the UN Charter and contribute to a world where conflicts are resolved through peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the values of the United Nations.
Both the nations expressed concern over poverty, rising costs in the most impoverished countries and called for global combined efforts for unlocking finance through writing off debt, streamlining international finance at the lowest interest rates, and significantly increasing official development assistance to Small Island Developing States, LDCs and climate-vulnerable nations. Both the countries believe that it would be a leap forward in international solidarity, if all OECD countries were to allocate 1.0 per cent of their national GDP to ODA, as it would leave positive effects on poverty rates, food security, access to basic health services, education, electricity, drinking water, sanitation, housing or social security, with multiplier effects on the diversification of economies, especially in agriculture.
According to the joint communique, the maiden visit as the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Dr. José Ramos-Horta, to the People's Republic of Bangladesh ushered in a new era in the bilateral relations between the two countries. Both the leaders expressed optimism for a stronger and deeper partnership for mutual benefits of the two friendly nations.
At the official invitation of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Dr. José Ramos-Horta visited Bangladesh from 14 to 17 December.
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