East Timorese-Vietnamese Relations

The states of East Timor and Vietnam maintain friendly relations .

history

Bronze drums of the Dong Son culture (around 800 BC - 200 AD) from what is now Vietnam were also discovered in East Timor .

Vietnam was one of twelve countries that recognized East Timor's declaration of independence in 1975. Immediately after the end of the Indonesian occupation in 1999 and before East Timor was granted independence in 2002, the two countries established diplomatic relations on October 21, 1999.

In 2009 the two countries signed a contract for the delivery of rice to East Timor, followed in 2010 by a framework agreement on technical and economic cooperation. Areas of cooperation are trade / investment, education, agriculture, fisheries and mutual support at the United Nations . Vietnam wants to provide East Timor with technical support in the fight against illegal fishing and send experts to train personnel.

diplomacy

Ambassador Pham Vinh Quang and President Francisco Guterres

East Timor has had an ambassador for Vietnam since 2009. Until 2012 it was based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia . The East Timorese Embassy in Hanoi opened in April 2012.

Vietnam does not have an embassy in Dili . The ambassador in Jakarta, Indonesia, is responsible . Hoàng Anh Tuấn held this office from September 27, 2016 to 2018 . He was followed by Phạm Vinh Quang , who presented his accreditation to President Francisco Guterres on February 28, 2019 .

economy

Vietnam is a member of ASEAN , which East Timor wants to join. Cooperation in coffee production and oil and gas production is planned. East Timor wants to benefit from Vietnam's agricultural, fishing and aquaculture experience. Trade agreements were signed in 2013 when East Timor’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão visited Hanoi.

For 2018, the East Timor’s statistical office registered imports from Vietnam to the value of 25,379,000 US dollars (2016: 33,061,000 US dollars), placing Vietnam in 5th place (2016: 5th place) among East Timorese importers. Re-exports from and to Vietnam were valued at 15,000 US dollars (2016: 309,000 US dollars), and exports to Vietnam 9,000 US dollars (2016: 195,000 US dollars). This puts Vietnam in 22nd place (2016: 14th place) among the recipients of East Timorese products.

The Vietnamese telecommunications company Viettel is active in East Timor with its subsidiary Telemor and is the second largest mobile operator in the island nation . Vietnam is also interested in access to the East Timorese market for building materials, clothing, shoes, electronics and dairy products.