Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao said he would promote Cebu City’s tourism in his country following his visit to several heritage and religious sites after participating in the 48th ASEAN Summit.

Gusmao visited the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño where he joined devotees in venerating the image of the Holy Child and met candle vendors outside the church.

He was also welcomed by Cebu City officials led by Mayor Nestor Archival.

The Prime Minister later visited Fort San Pedro, one of Cebu’s top tourist attractions, where he expressed interest in learning more about the city’s religious tourism.

“We can look at the past, we know how history was made and not only here, the Spanish, the Portuguese down there to Timor-Leste,” Gusmao said.

Gusmao said he enjoyed his brief stay in Cebu and appreciated the opportunity to explore its cultural landmarks.

“Go little bit around and see, to know, what happened before,” Gusmao added.

Mayor Archival, for his part, said:

“I would think that the secretary of tourism nila giingon sila nga, I think you go there because this is an area with religious tourism… because I understand 90 percent of population sa Timor-Leste is Catholic,” Archival said.

Archival revealed that initial talks have begun for collaboration in tourism development.

He added that Cebu City also hopes to learn from Timor-Leste’s agricultural practices as part of future cooperation.

“Agriculture so ang ako lang kung unsay technology nga ilang gigamit didto considering nga grabe sila ka init pud the technology that they are using might work sa ato nga init man pud ta,” Archival added.

Located in mainland Cebu, Cebu City is a neighboring local government unit of Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan Island where the ASEAN Summit was held from May 6-8, 2026.