Vietnam inaugurates embassy office in Timor-Leste

The inauguration not only meets the embassy's operational needs but also demonstrates Vietnam's long-term commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Timor-Leste.

Officials cut the ribbon to inaugurate the working premises of the Vietnamese Embassy in Timor-Leste in the capital city of Dili on July 15. (Photo published by VNA)
Officials cut the ribbon to inaugurate the working premises of the Vietnamese Embassy in Timor-Leste in the capital city of Dili on July 15. (Photo published by VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Embassy in Timor-Leste inaugurated its office in the capital city of Dili on July 15, marking its transition to fully functional, centralised operations just over three months after its establishment.

The ceremony was attended by Timor-Leste's Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, who is also Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas; Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Maria da Costa Rangel; representatives of the Office of the President of Timor-Leste; heads of ASEAN missions in Dili; as well as representatives of Telemor - Viettel's subsidiary in Timor-Leste, and the Vietnamese community in Timor-Leste.

Addressing the event, Chargé d'Affaires Pham Binh Dam said that the inauguration not only meets the embassy's operational needs but also demonstrates Vietnam's long-term commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Timor-Leste.

He added that the embassy will continue to serve as a bridge connecting agencies, localities, and businesses of the two countries while accompanying Timor-Leste in its ASEAN integration process.

vnanet-timor2.jpg
Chargé d'Affaires of Vietnam to Timor-Leste Pham Binh Dam speaks at the inauguration ceremony. (Photo published by VNA)

On behalf of the Timor-Leste Government, Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay congratulated the Vietnamese Embassy on the inauguration of its office and affirmed his country's high regard for its friendship with Vietnam. He expressed hope that the embassy will continue to make positive contributions to expanding bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Alongside the launch of the current office, both sides are coordinating to finalise the necessary procedures to take over and renovate the former United States Agency for International Development (USAID) building in Dili, turning it into the permanent headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy.

Immediately after the inauguration ceremony, the Vietnamese Embassy hosted the regular meeting of heads of ASEAN missions in Dili./.

VNA

See more

At the NA Standing Committee's session on August 4. (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly Standing Committee to look into 25 draft laws, resolutions

The committee will take up 25 draft laws and resolutions, including the revised Penal Code, the revised Law on Organisation of Criminal Investigation Agencies, and the review of the draft law amending Article 6 and Appendix IV on conditional business sectors and lines under the Law on Investment, among others.

ASEAN ambassadors in Beijing and the Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre pose for a group photo. (Photo:VNA)

Vietnam underscores ASEAN unity, centrality

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh highlighted ASEAN’s ability to listen to one another, respect diversity, manage differences and build consensus as among the key lessons underpinning the bloc’s strength and enabling it to move forward together.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (L) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader’s New Zealand visit draws media attention

Reports, articles and assessments published on August 12-13 highlighted that Vietnam-New Zealand relations are shifting strongly from high-level political commitments to concrete cooperation programmes, with a focus on trade, investment, education, agriculture, science and technology, defence and security, and climate change response.

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

Activities during Party General Secretary and President To Lam's state visit to New Zealand, a ceremony marking the 100th birth anniversary of Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Quang Tri, and a series of expos opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre are among news highlights on August 13.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam leaves Auckland on August 13 evening (local time), concluding a state visit to New Zealand. (Photo: VNA)

Party General Secretary, President To Lam concludes state visit to New Zealand

At the meetings during the visit, the two sides agreed to further strengthen political trust and advance bilateral relations comprehensively by stepping up high-level and all-level exchanges through Party, State, parliamentary and people-to-people channels, thereby making more effective use of existing policy dialogue mechanisms.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam (R) meets with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee in Auckland on August 13 (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with New Zealand House Speaker

Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee welcomed the state visit by the Vietnamese leader and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, stressing that it will further deepen the Vietnam–New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across various fields, ushering bilateral ties into a new, more profound, substantive and effective phase.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witness the exchange of cooperation agreements between the two countries on August 13, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam - New Zealand joint statement

Vietnam and New Zealand have issued a joint statement on the occasion of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam’s state visit to New Zealand from August 12-13.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (left) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at their talks in Auckland on August 13 (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader holds talks with New Zealand Prime Minister

Welcoming General Secretary and President Lam and the Vietnamese delegation, New Zealand PM Luxon said the visit marked an important milestone in strengthening bilateral ties after more than half a century. He affirmed Vietnam is an important partner of New Zealand and expressed his impression at the Southeast Asian country’s remarkable achievements, including its strong economic growth.

☀️ Morning digest on August 13

☀️ Morning digest on August 13

Party General Secretary and President To Lam's meeting with Vietnamese Embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's receptions for the Singaporean and Israeli ambassadors, and the 8th Vietnam–Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting are among news highlights on August 12 evening.

Delegates at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, US enhance cooperation in education - training

Affirming that Vietnam regards the US as one of its top strategic partners, Vice President of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh said Vietnam wishes to further advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the US in a substantive and in-depth manner on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political systems.