Jokowi, Xanana Agree to Expedite Indonesia-Timor Leste Border Deal

TEMPO.CO, Bogor - Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi and Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao agreed to hasten the finalization of the land border agreement between the two countries. They believed that negotiations would be completed soon.

Xanana made his first state visit to the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Friday, January 26, 2024, since being appointed Prime Minister of Timor Leste in July last year. He conveyed the commitment in a joint press statement after the bilateral meeting.

“We know that we have a better understanding of this issue,” Xanana said.

Meanwhile, Jokowi said he would push for the reactivation of the joint committee for border management, including the reactivation of cross-border posts. “We agreed to encourage the completion of border negotiations between the two countries,” he said.

The two leaders expressed the need to start maritime boundary negotiations to further strengthen the sovereignty of the two countries.

Indonesia and Timor Leste have also agreed to complete the two remaining land border segments in 2023, namely the Noel Besi, Citrana and Bidjael Sunan Oben segments. However, there has been no official announcement of the completion of the negotiations to date.

Apart from discussing the borders, Jokowi and Xanana agreed to enhance economic cooperation. Timor Leste also trusts Indonesian enterprises in its various projects, such as road construction in Oé-Cusse and the expansion of Dili International Airport.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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