Thailand and Timor-Leste Elevate Ties Across Five Areas, Push for Direct Bangkok-Dili Flights
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Thailand and Timor-Leste have agreed to elevate their relations and drive cooperation in five key areas following bilateral talks between Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. Government spokesman Ekapop Pienpiset disclosed the outcome of the discussions. Both sides agreed to expedite the conclusion of an air services agreement to pave the way for direct flights between Bangkok and Dili in the near future. Thailand also affirmed its readiness to be a food security partner for Timor-Leste and to jointly facilitate the export of Thai agricultural goods and processed food products to Timor-Leste, as well as to speed up the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding on rice trade. On development, since 2001 Thailand has provided more than 800 scholarships and training opportunities to personnel from Timor-Leste, and both sides will accelerate the finalisation of a three-year development cooperation plan for 2026 to 2028. Both sides also agreed to hold joint activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Thailand-Timor-Leste diplomatic relations in 2027.