Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta was impressed on Friday by the peace situation, stability, investor’s trust and confidence and great economic growth in the Philippines under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“I’ve been to the Philippines numerous times over the years. I’m very impressed with situation today of peace, of stability, investors’ trust, confidence in the Philippines, great economic growth,” President Ramos-Horta said during a joint press briefing with President Marcos.

The Timorese President is in Manila for a state visit in a bid to further strengthen and expand the cooperation between Timor-Leste and the Philippines.

Ramos-Horta further reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s commitment to expand and upgrade its 21-year-old diplomatic relationship with the Philippines, which was formally established on May 20, 2022.

“Let’s expand, upgrade the relationship between our two countries. We are newer. Only 21 years since restoration of independence. Philippines is over a hundred years, almost 200 million people but extraordinary rich experience,” he said.

“You cannot have a warmer, more productive, healthy relationship between two countries than the one enjoyed by Timor-Leste by the Philippines,” Ramos-Horta added.

Ramos-Horta said there is much room for partnership between the two countries given Timor-Leste’s new government.

“We have a new government, less than six months in office, working hard to implement its very ambitious program for the next five years and I believe that there are plenty of room for the Philippines to participate in supporting us in our endeavor to improve our economy,” he said. PND