On 29-30 August 2019, at the invitation of His Excellency Taur Matan Ruak, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister PRAK Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as the representative of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Cambodia, led a delegation to attend the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Referendum of self-...determination of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in Dili, Timor-Leste, along with other 38 high level delegations from ASEAN Member States, Portuguese speaking countries, Australia and the United Nations.
It is worth recalling that on 30 August 1999, the People of Timor-Leste overwhelmingly voted for their right to self-determination and its independence under the United Nations sponsored Referendum. As a result, Timor-Leste became a sovereign state on 20 May 2002.
His Excellency Dr. Francisco Guterres Lu Olo, President of Timor-Leste presided over the official ceremony of the 20th Anniversary of the Referendum which was held on 30 August 2019 at the Historical site of Tasi Tolu in Dili. In his speech at the ceremony, the President of Timor-Leste recalled the struggle of the people of Timor-Leste, with the support of international community that made the 1999 Referendum of self-determination possible. The President also expressed, on behalf of the people of Timor-Leste, his gratitude to the international community as well as the United Nations for their support and efforts to find a path that allowed the people of Timor-Leste to determine their own destiny.
During that occasion, His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister also attended the Plenary Session at the National Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
The Kingdom of Cambodia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste established diplomatic relations on 29 July 2002 and since then the two countries have enjoyed ties of friendship and growing bilateral cooperation from year to year. Cambodia has voiced her support since 2011 for Timor-Leste to become a member of ASEAN.
