UK to increase health relationship 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’s upcoming accession to The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
She will also join the UN Women event, enabled by ASEAN-wide UK funding, to encourage women’s participation in security, conflict resolution and development policy.
Minister Trevelyan will hold a high-level talk with Timorese counterparts including Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and President Ramos-Horta. Discussions will mainly focus on opportunities to develop cooperation between the 2 countries on health and development, including through a UK-UNICEF Health Programme to help fight child malnutrition which the Minister will launch during her visit.
Supported by £1 million of UK government funding, the programme will train community helpers and create support groups to advice and encourage parents on healthy food practices.
Minister Trevelyan will also attend a Women in Leadership event co-organized by the Government of Timor-Leste and UN Women. This event is maintained by UK funding to UN Women, part of a wider £3.2 million UK-ASEAN programme announced earlier this year. The programme will encourage women’s roles in peace and security initiatives throughout Southeast Asia.
The visit comes in an important year for Timor-Leste, as it accedes to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the leading political and economic bloc in the region. Minister Trevelyan will reiterate the UK’s continuous support for Timor-Leste’s accession, with the UK having become an ASEAN Dialogue Partner in 2021. Southeast Asia is an international center of economic growth and prosperity, and the UK’s engagement as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner helps the Prime Minister’s priority to improve the economy. Ahead of the visit, Anne-Marie Trevelyan said.
As an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, the UK continues to work thoroughly with partners across Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific to protect sustainable peace and prosperity in the region and address the challenges of the future
On my first visit to Timor-Leste, I wanted to discuss opportunities to increase our bilateral relationship and collaboration on shared health and development priorities.
We remain steadfast in our support of Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN as a main partner on the global stage.
The UK’s improved engagement with Timor-Leste demonstrates its long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, along with the Integrated Review Refresh published in March 2023. However, in the development cooperation, the UK is helping Timor-Leste to maintain regional stability, with Royal Navy vessel HMS Spey visiting Dili in August 2023.
