𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐒…….🇬🇧
𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐁𝐘 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐊𝐀𝐘 𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐀 𝐗𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐌𝐀̃𝐎 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐂𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟒𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐎-𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒
Dili Convention Centre 29 June 2025
Your Excellency, the Promoter of the Luso-Asian Communities Conference, Mr Joseph de Santa Maria
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Dignitaries Representing the Luso-Asian Community Delegations
Esteemed Representatives of International Organisations
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors
Distinguished Members of Parliament and of Government
Your Excellencies, Honourable Guests
Dear Friends, Dear English
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great honour and pleasure that we welcome to Dili, for the very first time, an event dedicated to the unity and preservation of Portuguese-Asian communities.
This Fourth Conference of the Portuguese-Asian Communities is, in my view, historic—not only due to the breadth and strong participation of the communities represented, but above all, for the powerful message we seek to share with the world, which has been echoed throughout these last two days.
We are united in diversity!
Regardless of what separates us—be it geography, political systems, ideologies, or distinct historical and cultural journeys—there is something that binds us in a unique way: our shared ancestry.
And this means we hold a common identity that distinguishes us from other communities around the world. It also means we are brought together, spontaneously, by deep bonds of friendship and a shared will for cooperation.
This unity in diversity has never been more relevant than it is today. In a world divided and scarred by conflict, instability, and war, any initiative that aims to institutionalise the values of solidarity, cooperation and humanism is a ray of hope!
We gather here today to affirm a shared understanding: that in Asia, despite the physical and temporal distance from a distant ancestry, there are still communities that feel and speak—or once spoke—a common language, and that share cultural traits and similar values.
And these values are rooted in peace, friendship and dignity.
They are expressed through art, dance, music and song—magnificent cultural expressions we have had the privilege to witness over the past few days here, in this Convention centre.
Your Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you know, Timor-Leste has endured a difficult past of colonisation, followed by a painful period of illegal and violent occupation.
Yet we, the Timorese, chose to overcome the bitterness rooted in our collective memory and to resolve our internal and external conflicts through reconciliation.
With courage and dialogue, we embraced what we call future-oriented justice: to confront, acknowledge, assume, and move beyond the traumas of war and the ideological contexts associated with historical regimes—from colonialism to the Cold War.
Embracing and understanding history, and trusting in an international rules-based system, were the cornerstones of the achievements that we can share with the world. They allowed us to break our isolation, to gain the courage and resilience to keep resisting, and ultimately to secure our full sovereignty.
This process of deconstruction not only freed us from corrosive feelings but also created the necessary space for what truly matters in the present: building the State and Nation and working toward the sustainable development of our country.
This example has never been more relevant than it is today. The world faces grave geopolitical, socio-economic, and environmental challenges—challenges that can only be addressed through humanism, rooted in the highest values of solidarity, tolerance and cooperation.
Regrettably, we now see that the greater the power and economic capacity, the greater the intransigence. And this, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the central weakness of the developed world: the relentless pursuit of economic interests at the expense of human dignity.
True courage lies not in inflexibility or confrontation, but in the unwavering search for peaceful solutions to collective problems.
I am confident that this conference in Dili, by strengthening ties among our communities and peoples, marks a firm step on the path toward development and the well-being of our societies.
Your Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you know, Timor-Leste is the only CPLP country located in the East. We therefore share a particular connection with the Luso-descendant minority communities in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Indonesia and India, reinforcing our natural affinity with the Asian region—now strengthened by this new dimension.
We recognise one another not only through cultural, religious, and linguistic heritage, but also through our common vulnerabilities, through the challenges overcome across centuries, and above all, through our shared desire to create better living conditions for our communities.
It was from this spirit of recognition and dialogue that the first Conference of the Portuguese-Asian Communities was born, in 2016. I cannot let this moment pass without thanking the Luso-descendant community of the Portuguese Settlement in Malacca for initiating this bold and unifying movement—one that brought us to this day, here in Dili.
The vision and will to preserve a unique and shared cultural heritage—emerging from small communities seeking connection, dialogue, mutual respect, and shared reflection on common challenges—is something Timor-Leste could not overlook.
From this event, beyond the magnificent cultural celebration, we now have the formal record of the Dili Declaration and the establishment of the Association of Portuguese-Asian Communities. The institutionalisation of this Association, with its legal base in Dili, fills us with pride.
I believe that with the support of the countries of these communities, and with the backing of the CPLP and all those who wish to join this mission of promoting centuries-old communities with rich cultural and historical legacies, we can also promote peace, tolerance and the development of our peoples.
I conclude by extending my heartfelt thanks to all the communities who travelled to Timor-Leste to take part in this event, to all the cultural groups for their outstanding performances, and to the Conference Organising Committee for their dedication and excellent work.
A special word of appreciation also goes to the Executive Secretary and Ambassadors of the CPLP, whose presence has greatly enriched this gathering.
May today mark the beginning of many more centuries of friendship and solidarity among our peoples, reinforcing the important sense of belonging and shared joy that brings us together.
Thank you for all being here, for shared our relationship, our friendship, and of course, our future.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡.
𝐊𝐚𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐗𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐬𝐦𝐚̃𝐨
Link Facebook (media GPM)