Though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the government will this year establish embassies in Cambodia, Myanmar, Brunei and Laos. 
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEK), Costancio Pinto, said the four countries are the last in the ASEAN for Timor-Leste to open embassies in this year.
“We open the embassy in the four nations due to our campaign of adhering to the ASEAN,” Deputy Minister Pinto said at the National Parliament.
He said the budget for establishing the embassies in the four countries had been in the National Parliament to discuss and debate.
“We hope that after the budget being approved, we will have opened the embassies in these nations,” he said.
He said the budget proposed to the National Parliament was $32 million.
“We don’t have a specific budget before establishing the embassy. We will hold a rise on the living expense in each nation for in some countries the cost of living is high,” he said.
Meanwhile Member of Parliament, MP Cesar Valente de Jesus said the establishment of the embassies in the four countries was very important as it could potentially open the way for investment.
“If we don’t establish embassies in these countries how we can get detailed information from the other nations?” he asked.
On the other side, the Prime Minister (PM), Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão said the budget for establishing the embassies in the four nations had been put in the State General Budget (OJE) of 2104.
According to him, through the new Timor-Leste’s representative in foreign country could further reinforce the capacity of influencing the nation’s reputation and contribute to adhering to the ASEAN conditions.
“The embassiest will help to reinforce the our influence and the nation’s reputation, and out adherence to the ASEAN,” said PM Gusmão.
