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• UK to boost health collaboration with Timor-Leste with launch of new UK-UNICEF Health Programme
• Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan to reiterate UK support for Timor-Leste鈥檚 upcoming accession to The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
• she will also attend a UN Women event, enabled by ASEAN-wide UK funding, to promote women鈥檚 participation in security, conflict resolution and development policy

To enhance UK-Timor-Leste collaboration on health and development, UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan will arrive in Timor-Leste today (Friday 29 September) for a 3-day visit. The visit will be the first by a UK minister since Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002.聽聽

Minister Trevelyan will hold high-level talks with Timorese counterparts including President Ramos-Horta, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, and Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas. Discussions will focus on opportunities to deepen cooperation between the 2 countries on health and development, including through a UK-UNICEF Health Programme to help combat child malnutrition which the Minister will launch during her visit.聽

Supported by 拢1 million of UK government funding, the programme will train community volunteers and establish support groups to encourage and advise parents on healthy food practices.聽聽

Minister Trevelyan will also attend a Women in Leadership event co-organised by the Government of Timor-Leste and UN Women. This event is supported by UK funding to UN Women, part of a wider 拢3.2 million UK-ASEAN programme announced earlier this year. The programme will promote women鈥檚 roles in peace and security initiatives throughout Southeast Asia.聽

The visit comes in an important year for Timor-Leste, as it accedes to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the foremost political and economic bloc in the region. Minister Trevelyan will reiterate the UK鈥檚 sustained support for Timor-Leste鈥檚 accession, with the UK having become an ASEAN Dialogue Partner in 2021. Southeast Asia is a global centre of economic growth and prosperity, and the UK鈥檚 engagement as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner supports the Prime Minister鈥檚 priority to grow the economy.聽

聽Ahead of the visit, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:聽聽

As an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, the UK continues to work closely with partners across Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific to secure sustainable peace and prosperity in the region and address the challenges of the future聽

On my first visit to Timor-Leste, I look forward to discussing opportunities to enhance our bilateral relationship and collaboration on shared health and development priorities.聽

We remain steadfast in our support of Timor-Leste鈥檚 accession to ASEAN as a key partner on the global stage.

The UK鈥檚 increased engagement with Timor-Leste demonstrates its long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, in line with the Integrated Review Refresh published in March 2023.聽

In addition to development cooperation, the UK is supporting Timor-Leste to maintain regional stability, with Royal Navy vessel HMS Spey visiting Dili in August 2023.