Singapore Prime Minister receives Timor-Leste’s highest state honour during official visit, reaffirming enduring bilateral partnership.
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong received the Order of Timor-Leste (Grand Collar) from President José Ramos-Horta during a conferment ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Dili on 3 July 2026. The honour was presented during Prime Minister Wong’s Official Visit to Timor-Leste from 2 to 3 July 2026 and recognised Singapore’s longstanding partnership and contributions to Timor-Leste’s nation-building journey.
The conferment ceremony formed part of Prime Minister Wong’s official programme in Timor-Leste, underscoring the close and growing relationship between the two countries. The visit reflected the shared commitment of Singapore and Timor-Leste to strengthening bilateral cooperation and expanding collaboration as Timor-Leste prepares to become a full member of ASEAN.
In his acceptance remarks, Prime Minister Wong expressed his deepest appreciation for the Order of Timor-Leste, describing it as a great honour accepted with humility and gratitude. He said the award belonged not only to him but also to Singapore and the many Singaporeans who have contributed to the friendship between the two nations through technical cooperation, professional training, capability-building initiatives and people-to-people exchanges.
Prime Minister Wong highlighted Singapore’s longstanding support for Timor-Leste’s development, noting that more than 1,300 Timorese officials have participated in Singapore’s training programmes over the years. He reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to supporting Timor-Leste as it embarks on a new chapter as a full member of ASEAN, including through continued capacity-building and institutional cooperation.
Reflecting on the bilateral relationship, Prime Minister Wong said the partnership had been built on mutual respect and mutual learning. He noted that Singapore had also drawn valuable lessons from Timor-Leste’s development journey, describing the country’s resilience, determination and strength of conviction as an inspiration to the region. He added that Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN represents an important milestone for both the country and the regional grouping, creating new opportunities for closer cooperation.
Source: Singapore MFA
