His Excellency the Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister of Tourism and Environment, Dato’ Seri Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, participated in the Asian Portuguese Community Conference (APCC), held at the Dili Convention Center (CCD), which began on the afternoon of Friday, June 27, and will conclude on June 29, 2025.

The APCC Conference was officially opened by His Excellency the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, and welcomed participation from Luso-Asian communities such as Lifau (Oe-Cusse Ambeno), Flores, Jakarta (Indonesia), Goa (India), Malacca (Malaysia), and also Sri Lanka.

On the first day of the conference, an association was also launched under the name Asian Portuguese Communities Association (APCA), with the objective of further strengthening and facilitating communication and collaboration among the Luso-Asian communities.

President José Ramos-Horta stated that APCA serves as a platform to address key issues related to education, culture, research, economic development, and further internationalization of the Portuguese language.

President Horta emphasized that the APCC conference is very important for remembering the shared histories and honoring them with accuracy and truth, while continuing to strengthen solidarity within the Luso-Asian community.

APCC was first established in Malacca, Malaysia, in 2016, with the aim of bringing together communities that continue to preserve the Portuguese legacy and heritage in Asia.

This conference was organized by the IX Constitutional Government in partnership with the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).

The theme for the 4th APCC Conference is:
“United in Diversity. Challenges and Opportunities of a Centuries-Old Legacy.