The agreement came after Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas, made an official visit to Thailand on 20-21 June.

Thailand’s government House said the resolution reached last Tuesday responded to a proposal from Dili as it ramps up preparations to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Thailand’s Bangkok Post reported on Thursday.

Last week Timor-Leste also agreed to issue entry visas at seven embassies to “simplify” the visa process and improve border control.

Migration attaches in Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Portugal will now be able to issue visas for “work, business, temporary stays, establishment of residence, transit, tourism and airport stopovers,” the Timor-Leste government said.

The upgraded visa processes to enter Timor-Leste seeks to make the country more attractive to foreign tourists and give greater market access to Timor-Leste’s business sectors, the Timorese government have said.