Bilateral Diplomacy: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão has flown to Vietnam for a three-day visit aimed at deepening cooperation, with meetings at the Communist Party headquarters and with President Tô Lâm, plus a speech at the ASEAN Future Forum 2026; Timor-Leste and Vietnam are set to sign four agreements, including education and higher education partnerships. ASEAN Integration: Analysts say Gusmão’s presence at AFF 2026 highlights Timor-Leste’s push to play a bigger role in ASEAN after joining in October 2025, aligning with the forum’s focus on peace, prosperity, and people-centred development. Tourism Skills Drive: The Ministry of Tourism launched the Timor-Leste Tourism Ambassador Programme, a free certified training for hospitality workers to improve customer service and destination knowledge, with the first sessions held in Dili and more planned through July to September. Regional Leadership: President José Ramos-Horta reiterated that reconciliation and dialogue are key to stability, pointing to Timor-Leste’s own peacebuilding experience and its role in supporting ASEAN’s development. Maritime Law Watch: Cambodia has moved ahead with UNCLOS compulsory conciliation against Thailand over a long-running Gulf of Thailand dispute, appointing international legal experts to the commission.