Journalism of Courage
Lauding the “very small but active” Indian community in Timor-Leste as a ‘living bridge’ for its role in improving bilateral relations, President Droupadi Murmu announced that India will soon open its embassy while Timor-Leste will also establish a resident mission in New Delhi soon.
President Murmu, who is on the first-ever presidential visit from India to Timor-Leste, arrived in Timor-Leste capital Dili Saturday, addressed the Indian diaspora in the archipelagic Southeast Asian nation.
Underscoring the “importance of the Indian origin/Indian diaspora,” she said, “You have merged with the local host country very well.”
Murmu was also accorded with the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the country’s highest honour from her counterpart José Ramos-Horta for “her achievements in public service and dedication to education, social welfare and women empowerment”.
President Murmu, during her interaction with her counterpart, also emphasised that India considers the whole world as one family and that Indians are accepted by the whole world because of their hard work and trustworthiness.
When asked about how India remains united, despite being so diverse, President Murmu said the country believes in unity in diversity and people respect our “strong Constitution” as well as the elected representatives.
At the ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta on September 7, 2023, PM Narendra Modi announced the decision to establish an embassy in Dili as part of the country’s efforts to boost ties with the 10-member regional grouping. At present, people going from Timor-Leste to India have to get a visa from Indian embassy in Indonesia.
