Megawati Receives Visit from Timor-Leste President at Teuku Umar Residence, What Was Discussed?
Fifth President of Indonesia Megawati Soekarnoputri received a visit from the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, at her residence on Jalan Teuku Umar, Menteng, Central Jakarta. The meeting lasted for more than 2.5 hours. What was discussed?
Ramos-Horta arrived at the Teuku Umar residence on Monday (23/3/2026) afternoon and was welcomed by a PDI Perjuangan delegation. PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto led the welcoming group, accompanied by DPP Chairman Ahmad Basarah, Yasonna Laoly, Ronny Talapessy, and the Head of the party’s Central Research and Policy Analysis Agency, Andi Widjajanto.
Megawati warmly welcomed and immediately shook hands with Ramos-Horta. Megawati initiated the lengthy dialogue, which only concluded towards the evening.
After 150 minutes of intensive discussions, the meeting ended with an exchange of souvenirs. Megawati presented a piece of distinctive Indonesian batik cloth as a symbol of the nobility of Nusantara culture, along with a book of her own work titled “Spirit of Humanity”.
The book serves as an affirmation of Megawati’s consistency in advocating humanitarian values on the global political stage, in line with Ramos-Horta’s role as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Meanwhile, Ramos-Horta handed over a traditional Timor-Leste handicraft bag and characteristic Timor-Leste Arabica coffee.
The meeting between Megawati and Ramos-Horta serves as a follow-up to the dialogue that previously took place in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of February 2026. At that time, the two met as part of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2026 events.
Their relationship is said to be closely intertwined and not limited to formal diplomatic channels. Megawati is known to have close ties with several Timor-Leste figures, including the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Cambodia, Kupa Lopes, whom she often regards as a foster child.
Ramos-Horta also regards Megawati as a key figure in the reconciliation process of Indonesia-Timor Leste relations. He recalls Megawati’s presence at the Timor-Leste independence restoration ceremony in 2002 as one of the historic moments following the 1999 referendum.
During the meeting, Ramos-Horta extended an invitation to Megawati to visit Dili to receive Timor-Leste’s highest honour, the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste. The country’s highest award is for those who have made great contributions to international peace.
Following the meeting, the two leaders concluded the agenda with a photo session together with the attendees present.