Presidential Palace Nicolau Lobato, January 19, 2018
The President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres Lu Olo, today accepted credentials from the new ambassadors of the United States of America, Portugal and the Republic of Korea during a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace Nicolau Lobato.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, US Ambassador Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick said she will continue to develop diplomatic relations between the two countries, which were established on May 20, 2002. Prior to the Restoration of Independence, the United States had already established a follow-up mission for the transition period under the United Nations administration. The governments of Timor-Leste and the United States develop extensive bilateral cooperation, including in the areas of Defence, Agriculture, Education, Economic development and Democratic Governance.
The new ambassador of Portugal, José Pedro Machado Vieira, said that he will work to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the areas of Justice, Defence, Education, Portuguese Language, Public Works and Finance.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Lee Chin-bum has a military background like his predecessor. During the transition period, for the Restoration of Independence under UN administration, the Republic of Korea sent a military unit to Timor-Leste and in 2002 the two countries established diplomatic relations. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Dili opened in 2009. Cooperation between the two countries has steadily strengthened, especially in the area of Labour, Youth and Sport.
-Media PR.