Timor-Leste PM to visit Philippines next week

MANILA, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III has invited Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao to visit Manila next week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

Gusmao will be here from June 5 to 9. He will also give a lecture at the University of the Philippines College of Law and travel to Subic, Zambales and Clark, Pampanga to meet up with potential Filipino investors in Timor-Leste.

"The two leaders will discuss areas of mutual interest and cooperation between the Philippines and Timor-Leste, such as education, trade and investment, infrastructure, and defense," the DFA said in a statement.

Gusmao was Timor-Leste's first President after achieving independence in 2002. He is serving his second five-year term as prime minister, having first assumed the position in 2007. He is concurrently Minister for Defense and Security.

He was one of the leaders of the East Timorese resistance movement. He actively campaigned with the international community to help bring about Timor-Leste's independence.

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