Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta on Sunday expressed optimism over greater cooperation between Bangladesh and his country in the coming days to expand economic and trade relations.

"We can import more from Bangladesh," he said in a joint press conference at the Chief Adviser's Office after the bilateral meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

The Timor-Leste President also invited Bangladeshi companies to his country and explore opportunities there.

The President of Timor-Leste urged Bangladesh business firms to come up with their investment in his country.

Ramos-Horta said, "We invite Bangladeshi companies to come in Timor-Leste as by next year, we will join ASEAN and will be part of a region of 700 million people.”     

He said Timor-Leste will join a GDP of over US$ 4 trillion next year.

CA Yunus, Timor-Leste President hold fruitful meeting, eye closer ties

The Timor-Leste president hoped that Bangladesh would be a partner of developing his country.

Ramos-Horta said Nobel Peace Laureate Prof Yunus is one of the most respected leaders in the world, who is active in office, comparing the Bangladesh chief adviser to the world leaders like Nelson Mandela, John F Kenned, Mahatma Gandhi, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara.

“So, Bangladesh is very fortunate, very lucky, to have such an unassuming and humble person leading…he is working with you – the young people – to transform the country,” he said.

Mentioning that both Bangladesh and Timor-Leste have a similar history of suffering, the Timor-Leste president said the people of Bangladesh are resilient, hardworking, creative and successful.     

He described Prof Yunus as his brother, friend, and mentor and thanked the Bangladesh government for hosting him.

Ramos-Horta was elected president in May 2022. He had previously been president from 2007-2012 - during which he was shot during an attempted assassination.

He was co-awarded the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, along with Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, for working for peace in East Timor.

CA Yunus to hold talks with Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta today to strengthen ties

Praising Prof Yunus' leadership, the President said this country has a tremendous future. "Thank you for hosting me. I am very, very honoured," he said.

Earlier, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and Timor-Leste President held "fruitful discussions" and shared their ideas to take the relations between the two countries to a new height.

They witnessed the signing of two instruments -- MoU on bilateral consultations mechanism and agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders -- to further strengthen the relations.

The two leaders had a tete-a-tete which was followed by a delegation-level meeting.

Earlier in the morning, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain met President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta and discussed issues of mutual interest.

The meeting, held at a city hotel, discussed ways to deepen the relations between the two countries.

While welcoming the President of Timor-Leste on his first official visit to Bangladesh, Foreign Adviser Hossain discussed issues of mutual interest with the visiting President, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

During his stay in Dhaka, the president will engage in a series of meetings and events aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.

He was on Saturday night accorded a red carpet reception on his arrival here on a four-day official visit.

Bangladesh rolls out red carpet welcoming President José Ramos-Horta

The Chief Adviser received President Ramos-Horta at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on his arrival around 10:40pm.

He was given a state salute and guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces.

He inspected the guard of honour, while the national anthems of the countries were played.

President Ramos-Horta is accompanied by a 19-member delegation, including Timor-Leste’s Foreign Minister.

In the afternoon (Sunday), Ramos-Horta is scheduled to meet honorary consul of Timor-Leste in Bangladesh, Kutubuddin Ahmed, and Bangladesh Football Federation President and BNP leader, Tabith Awal.

On December 16, Ramos-Horta will call on the President of Bangladesh at Bangabhaban.

He will also visit the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar to pay homage to the heroes of Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

The President will attend the 54th Victory Day celebrations, marking Bangladesh’s historic victory in 1971.

On his final day, December 17, the Timor-Leste President will deliver a lecture at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) auditorium on “The Challenges of Peace in the Contemporary World”.

He is expected to interact with Bangladeshi students and young leaders, sharing his experiences of leading his country’s independence movement, the role of the people, and the post-independence aspirations of Timor-Leste.

President Ramos-Horta will leave Dhaka later in the day, concluding his visit aimed at fostering diplomatic and cultural relations between Bangladesh and Timor-Leste.