A delegation from the National Commission on Elections (CNE) of Timor-Leste visited the NEC on Tuesday, August 19. The delegation, led by Commissioner Olávio de Almeida, visited the NEC to exchange views on election management systems and explore opportunities for institutional cooperation between the two commissions.

The meeting began with welcoming remarks by the Deputy Secretary General Dong-wan Kang of the NEC, who expressed appreciation for the delegation’s visit and emphasized the importance of mutual learning among election management bodies. He noted that cooperation and exchange among electoral institutions contribute significantly to the advancement of democratic governance and the continuous improvement of electoral systems.

Commissioner Almeida conveyed his gratitude for the warm reception extended by the NEC and highlighted that the visit formed part of the CNE’s comparative study of electoral systems and democratic practices in Asia. He explained that the Timor-Leste CNE is currently working on the establishment of relevant facilities and expressed interest in learning from the NEC’s experience in similar areas.

During the working-level discussions, both sides exchanged views on civic and voter education programs, institutional structures to ensure political neutrality, and the role of election training institutes in promoting professional and transparent election administration. The delegation expressed interest in visiting the Korean Civic Education Institute for Democracy (KOCEI) to learn more about its training programs and facilities. The following day, the delegation visited KOCEI, where they met with the President of KOCEI and exchanged views on professional election training and capacity-building initiatives.

Both organizations reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening dialogue to promote fair and transparent elections. The NEC expressed hope that this visit would serve as a stepping stone for continued mutual exchange of experiences between the election commissions of the Republic of Korea and Timor-Leste.