Indonesia and Timor Leste agreed to push for efforts to accomplish discussions on two segments of the land borders between the two countries, namely: the Bidjael Sunan – Oben border and the Noel Besi – Citrana border.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Timor Leste counterpart Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno discussed economic cooperation and land borders, at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Wednesday (Jan 11).

The bilateral meeting discussed several issues, including efforts to increase economic cooperation and complete discussions on land borders between the two countries, according to an official statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs received by Indonesia Window on Thursday.

Regarding the land border, Retno and Magno agreed to push for efforts to settle discussions on two segments of the Indonesia - Timor Leste land borders, namely: the Bidjael Sunan (Indonesia) - Oben (Timor Leste) border and the Noel Besi (Indonesia) - Citrana (Timor Leste) border.

Minister Retno said that it was important to maintain conducive conditions so that negotiations could continue.

Regarding economic cooperation, the two ministers discussed the follow-up to the Joint Industrial Park development cooperation plan. In this regard, the two parties agreed to start discussing the establishment of a Joint Free Trade Zone agreement within the industrial area on the border between Oecusse District (Timor Leste) and NTT Province (Indonesia).

In addition, the meeting also discussed the importance of accelerating the completion of the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Communications and Informatics.

The two ministers agreed that efforts would be made to complete the agreements this year so that they could be signed during the visit of the Prime Minister of Timor Leste, the time of which will be determined later.

During the meeting, Minister Retno also explained priorities of Indonesia as the chair of ASEAN 2023. At the ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in November 2022, ASEAN has accepted Timor Leste's membership in principle. A Roadmap for full membership will be made.

Indonesia becomes Chair of ASEAN 2023 after receiving the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from Cambodia at the closing ceremony of the 40th and 41st Summits and other related summits at the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel on Nov. 13, 2022.

The meeting between the foreign ministers of Indonesia and Timor Leste was held following the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs' Annual Press Statement in Jakarta on Wednesday (Jan. 11).

On the occasion, Minister Retno also explained the priorities of Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN 2023 under the theme: ASEAN Matters, Epicentrum of Growth.

Reporting by Indonesia Window