Bandar seri begawan: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, received His Excellency Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, in an audience ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman.

According to Radio Television Brunei, the meeting took place during His Excellency’s two-day visit to Brunei. The visit aims to express gratitude for Brunei’s consistent support for Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN. Timor-Leste is anticipated to officially become the 11th member of ASEAN during the 47th ASEAN Summit set for 26th October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Present during the audience were Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohammad Yusof, the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dato Seri Paduka Awang Mohd Riza bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office. His Excellency Bendito dos Santos Freitas was accompanied by His Excellency Abel Guterres, Ambassador Extraordinary of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to Brunei Darussalam, and Mr. Vanio Florival Ximenes de Jesus, National Director for South East Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.