Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo will meet his counterpart from Timor-Leste for talks that will advance the bilateral relations between Manila and Dili.
Manalo will sit down with Bendito dos Santos Freitas, minister for foreign affairs and cooperation of Timor-Leste, during the latter's official visit to the Philippines from August 19 to 21.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the two diplomats will discuss the current state of bilateral and multilateral relationship between the Philippines and Timor-Leste, as well as to exchange views on regional and international developments.
It is dos Santos Freitas' first visit to Manila since assuming his role in 2023.
In 2022, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member of the regional bloc, granting it an observer status.
The Philippines has welcomed Timor-Leste's progress in implementing the Roadmap towards its full membership to ASEAN as well as supported its efforts in this regard.