EAST TIMOR

CIIE leads global development to new, bright prospects

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, November 5, 2023

The CIIE, a pioneering event in the history of international trade development, has become a showcase of China's new development pattern, a platform for high-level opening-up, and a public good shared by the whole world.

Key Points: 
  • The CIIE, a pioneering event in the history of international trade development, has become a showcase of China's new development pattern, a platform for high-level opening-up, and a public good shared by the whole world.
  • This year's CIIE fully resumes offline activities, and is expected to welcome guests from 154 countries, regions, and international organizations.
  • Since the first CIIE, many participating companies have expressed similar sentiments, speaking of the tremendous appeal of the event.
  • The CIIE mirrors the resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy, to deepen reform and pursue high-quality development through greater openness.

No more oil, gas and coal. Two nation-states join growing bloc of countries calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, September 24, 2023

This move makes them the first countries outside the Pacific region to endorse the call for an international pact to transition away from oil, gas and coal.

Key Points: 
  • This move makes them the first countries outside the Pacific region to endorse the call for an international pact to transition away from oil, gas and coal.
  • This is why today I'm honoured to announce that Antigua and Barbuda join our Pacific friends in calling for a negotiation of a Fossil Fuel Treaty.
  • Timor-Leste stands in solidarity with Pacific nations and is formally joining the call for the negotiation of a Fossil Fuel Treaty.
  • Its mission is simple — to halt new fossil fuel ventures, phase out existing ones and fund a fair shift to clean energy.

Timor-Leste election offers an extraordinary lesson in how to build a stable democracy

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, May 27, 2023

After a spirited election campaign, the people of Timor-Leste voted for a new parliament on May 21.

Key Points: 
  • After a spirited election campaign, the people of Timor-Leste voted for a new parliament on May 21.
  • With roughly 40% of the vote and 31 out of 65 seats, Xanana Gusmão’s National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) looks set to lead a new coalition government.
  • The rapid departure of UN peacekeepers in 2005 was quickly followed by a political crisis in 2006.
  • Indeed, it is now the only country in south-east Asia rated by the US-based political advocacy group as “free”.

Surprising success

    • How did Timor-Leste achieve this surprising success?
    • The country was able to establish new institutions capable of turning aspirations of a democratic state into reality.
    • The decades-long independence struggle brought together diverse interests and groups, from both inside the country and throughout the world.

Parliamentary democracy

    • Parliamentarians are selected by an electoral system of proportional representation that incentivises compromise and coalition building.
    • These individuals had long maintained order locally and were crucial in resisting Indonesian rule.
    • External assistance was generally not compromised by ulterior motives, such as securing mineral resources or concerns about fighting terrorism.
    • Moreover, the international community generally followed the lead of national leaders, rather than trying to impose unwanted policies or practices.

Penny Wong said this week national power comes from 'our people'. Are we ignoring this most vital resource?

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 18, 2023

During her speech at the National Press Club this week, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong argued that the “unprecedented” circumstances our region faces “require a response of unprecedented coordination and ambition in our statecraft”. Wong identified many key tools of Australia’s statecraft: Importantly, Wong also also observed that “our national power, more than anything else, comes from our people”.

Key Points: 


During her speech at the National Press Club this week, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong argued that the “unprecedented” circumstances our region faces “require a response of unprecedented coordination and ambition in our statecraft”. Wong identified many key tools of Australia’s statecraft:

  • Importantly, Wong also also observed that “our national power, more than anything else, comes from our people”.
  • Yet, she noted, the number of Australian diplomats working in the Pacific had actually shrunk under the previous government.

What is statecraft?


    Statecraft is a word increasingly used by leaders, officials and commentators to describe the actions that states take to try to influence:
    • Many believe that, to earn the most influence, Australia’s tools of statecraft should come with big price tags and flashy announcements.
    • In the Pacific, for instance, the government is fond of announcing big pledges of developmental aid, infrastructure projects and military assistance.

Diplomats are not all the same

    • The past openings of Australian-funded facilities become their announcements, even though the person in the social media thumbnail is not same as the one in the commemorative photos.
    • Officially, foreign policy is as emotionless and cut-and-paste as these official Twitter accounts.
    • It is as if Australian foreign policy officials are grown from pods in the basement of the R.G.
    • But this reality attracts surprisingly little attention in much of the analysis that is done on the effectiveness of Australia’s statecraft.

Why kindness and empathy matter

    • This is why we’re studying the role individuals play in implementing Australian statecraft in the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste.
    • It is the kiss of death to a project if an individual is arrogant or patronising or somehow offends their hosts.
    • Read more:
      Despite its Pacific 'step-up', Australia is still not listening to the region, new research shows

Roads and mobile networks only go so far

    • Australia can build roads, train police, buy telcos and build submarines, but if the people representing the country and implementing its policies aren’t polite, respectful and trustworthy, then it might as well not bother.
    • This activity was supported by the Australian Government through a grant by the Australian Department of Defence.
    • The views expressed herein are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Australian Government or the Australian Department of Defence.

TIMOR-LESTE: Youth access local food through partnership

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 27, 2023

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 27, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Youth attending Salesian schools and youth centers in Timor-Leste had access to better nutrition thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and Rise Against Hunger, an international relief organization that provides food and life-changing aid to the world's most vulnerable.

Key Points: 
  • NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 27, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Youth attending Salesian schools and youth centers in Timor-Leste had access to better nutrition thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions , the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and Rise Against Hunger, an international relief organization that provides food and life-changing aid to the world's most vulnerable.
  • The schools, technical and vocational training centers, orphanages, and youth centers allow hundreds to finish their elementary and junior high school to advance to senior and university studies."
  • One of the organizations that received the food was the Don Bosco Halicou Orphanage in Maliana, which consists of seven villages.
  • Efforts are focused on helping poor youth through education and providing new opportunities for the future.

Zhaoke Ophthalmology Completed Patient Enrollments for the Phase III Clinical Trials of the Myopia Progression Treatment Drug NVK002

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 3, 2022

The primary objective of the China CHAMP and Mini-CHAMP trials is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NVK002 for the treatment of myopia progression in children and adolescents.

Key Points: 
  • The primary objective of the China CHAMP and Mini-CHAMP trials is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NVK002 for the treatment of myopia progression in children and adolescents.
  • These early completions of patient recruitment across both trials, gives the company a strong headstart in moving towards its goal to lead the market in launching a myopia progression treatment drug.
  • Following this, a New Drug Application ("NDA") submission to the US Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") is expected in 2023.
  • Dr. Li Xiaoyi (Benjamin), Chairman of the Board of Directors, Executive Director and CEO of Zhaoke Ophthalmology, said, "The early completion of the patient recruitment of NVK002's Phase III clinical trials marks another huge and exciting milestone for Zhaoke Ophthalmology.

The Fifth CIIE brings global products from coastal states of the South Pacific to China

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 21, 2022

The area of its business exhibition increased from 270,000 square meters in 2018 to 366,000 square meters in 2021.

Key Points: 
  • The area of its business exhibition increased from 270,000 square meters in 2018 to 366,000 square meters in 2021.
  • Exhibitors at the past four CIIEs launched more than 1,500 new products, technologies and services and clinched tentative deals worth over $270 billion.
  • The fourth CIIE attracted many manufacturers from coastal states in the South Pacific.
  • The purchasing power of the Chinese market has also opened new avenues of income for companies in coastal states in the South Pacific.

The Fifth CIIE brings global products from coastal states of the South Pacific to China

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 21, 2022

The area of its business exhibition increased from 270,000 square meters in 2018 to 366,000 square meters in 2021.

Key Points: 
  • The area of its business exhibition increased from 270,000 square meters in 2018 to 366,000 square meters in 2021.
  • Exhibitors at the past four CIIEs launched more than 1,500 new products, technologies and services and clinched tentative deals worth over $270 billion.
  • The fourth CIIE attracted many manufacturers from coastal states in the South Pacific.
  • The purchasing power of the Chinese market has also opened new avenues of income for companies in coastal states in the South Pacific.

Mary Kay Inc. Highlights Coral Reef Preservation on Coral Triangle Day 2022

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 9, 2022

To celebrate Coral Triangle Day, Mary Kay, a global sustainability advocate, sheds light on the efforts being made to preserve the health of this region which is vital to the overall health of our world.

Key Points: 
  • To celebrate Coral Triangle Day, Mary Kay, a global sustainability advocate, sheds light on the efforts being made to preserve the health of this region which is vital to the overall health of our world.
  • The Coral Triangle has the highest coral diversity in the world.
  • This area is also home to the highest diversity of coral reef fishes in the world, including thirty-seven percent of the worlds coral reef fish species, and 56% of the coral reef fishes in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Our partnership with funders like Mary Kay enables TNC and our local partners to restore and protect this critical coral reef region.

McDermott Completes Subsea Campaign for Bayu-Undan Gas Field

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 10, 2022

The Bayu-Undan field is one of Timor-Leste's largest gas fields.

Key Points: 
  • The Bayu-Undan field is one of Timor-Leste's largest gas fields.
  • McDermott's scope involved a tieback of a single in-field well to existing facilities, re-using existing flexible flowline, with a new umbilical and certain infrastructure.
  • "McDermott completed the scope within nine months of award," said Mahesh Swaminathan, McDermott's Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, Subsea & Deepwater.
  • "McDermott's industry-leading health, safety and environmental protocols were effective in mitigating certain risks associated with executing a subsea EPCI scope during the COVID-19 pandemic."