Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the ASEAN summit in Indonesia, announced the decision to open an Indian embassy in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste. "Act East in action - Delhi to Dili! At the ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta, PM @narendramodi announces decision to open our Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste," Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi posted on X after Modi made the announcement at the 20th ASEAN summit.
Dili holds historical importance for the country as that has been an important point of Timor's struggle for independence from Portugal and Indonesia. India was one of the first countries to establish relations with the country. In 2002, India was represented at the independence day celebrations of Timor-Leste by a delegation led by the then minister of external affairs Omar Abdullah.
An MOU formally establishing diplomatic relations was signed on 24 January 2003, ANI reported. Modi announced to opening the embassy as part of its Act East policy.
Modi said that ASEAN is the central pillar of India's Act East policy and it has an important place in India's Indo-Pacific initiative. "Our history and geography unite India and ASEAN. Along with it, our shared values, regional integration, and our shared belief in peace, prosperity and a multipolar world also unite us. ASEAN is the central pillar of India's Act East Policy. India supports ASEAN's outlook on ASEAN-India centrality and Indo-Pacific," Modi said.
"My first engagement will be the 20th ASEAN-India Summit. I look forward to discussing with ASEAN leaders the future contours of our partnership, which has now entered its fourth decade. Engagement with ASEAN is an important pillar of India's 'Act East' policy," Modi added.