President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday reached East Timor, on the last leg of her three-nation visit, after concluding her visit to New Zealand and Fiji. This will be the first-ever presidential visit from India to Timor-Leste, a Southeast Asian nation.
In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Furthering the Delhi-Dili connect! President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn arrived in Dili for the first-ever Head of State level visit from India to Timor-Leste. In a special gesture, President @JoseRamosHorta1 of Timor-Leste warmly received President Murmu at the airport"
During the visit, apart from the bilateral meeting with President Jose Ramos-Horta, there will also be a meeting with Prime Minister, Xanana Gusmao who will call on Murmu.The president will also attend a community reception with the Indians in Timor-Leste and Friends of India, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
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Ahead of the visit, MEA Secretary (East) Jaideep Mazumdar told reporters in New Delhi that India will soon set up an embassy in Dili. He also said that Timor-Leste has also announced its intention to open its embassy in New Delhi.
This visit comes seven months after the President of Timor-Leste visited India and attended the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January this year when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of that event.
Before this, President Murmu visited New Zealand, setting a new landmark in bilateral partnership. She had useful discussions with Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters on further strengthening bilateral ties in which the Indian diaspora plays an important role.
During the visit, Murmu also announced that India will soon open a Consulate in Auckland to further strengthen diplomatic ties with New Zealand and facilitate the diaspora
She said she was happy to see the achievements of the diaspora in New Zealand. President Murmu visited Fiji at the invitation of her counterpart Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere. This was the first visit by an Indian head of state to the archipelago nation. Katonivere and Murmu discussed ways to deepen the bilateral ties.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka also called on President Murmu and the two leaders held wide-ranging discussions and agreed to build upon the historic ties and strengthen the partnership between the two countries.
During her visit, she was conferred the Companion of the Order of Fiji, the country's highest civilian award. She also addressed the Fijian Parliament and the Indian community in Fiji.