Babo said the Portuguese government had agreed to fund Timorese elementary teacher’s travel to Portugal to learn Portuguese language instruction, amid concern at the poor Portuguese language skills of Timorese students.

The high profile visit comes just two weeks after Lu Olo made his first official overseas visit to Indonesia to meet with Indonesian president Joko Widodo.

During this visit talks on strengthening bilateral relations were also high on Lu Olo’s agenda.

At Lu Olo’s presidential swearing in on 19 May 2017, Lu Olo pledged to assert Timor-Leste and its “principles and values” on the world stage, promoting peace, environmental protection, prosperity and the elimination of poverty.

In an interview with the Guardian at the time the President said he would pursue bilateral relationships of mutual respect, regardless of the size of each nation.