President Droupadi Murmu was awarded the Grand-Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the highest civilian honour of the Southeast Asian country, by her counterpart, President Jos Ramos-Horta on Saturday. This prestigious accolade was bestowed upon Murmu, 66, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to public service, particularly in the realms of education, social welfare, and women’s empowerment, according to a statement by the President’s office.
President Murmu expressed that this distinguished honour symbolizes the strong bond of friendship between India and Timor-Leste. Her visit to Dili marked the final leg of her three-nation tour, which also included stops in New Zealand and Fiji. Notably, this visit is the first-ever presidential journey from India to the young Southeast Asian nation.
Upon her arrival in Dili, President Murmu was warmly welcomed by President Ramos-Horta at the airport. The reception was marked by the cheerful presence of local children and a ceremonial guard of honour at the Presidential Palace. During her visit, President Murmu engaged in comprehensive discussions with President Ramos-Horta aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
The two leaders deliberated on potential collaborations in fields such as information technology, digital technology, health and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and capacity building. They also explored the possibility of Timor-Leste joining the International Solar Alliance, reflecting the shared values of democracy and pluralism that underpin the friendly relations between India and Timor-Leste.
President Murmu expressed confidence that these discussions would further strengthen the diplomatic and cooperative ties between the two nations.
With inputs from agencies.