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ndonesia and Timor Leste forged a closer relationship on Monday with the latter awarding medals of honor to hundreds of Indonesian Military members serving in Dili where they provided medical assistance to local people and military personnel between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2 this year.

Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu received the honor on behalf of the soldiers from the Timor Leste government during a meeting attended by representatives of both countries at the Defense Ministry office in Jakarta.

“The award has a positive impact on the relationship between both countries, especially in the defense sector,” Ryamizard said in his opening remarks for the event.

As many as 441 personnel from the Indonesian Army, the Indonesian Navy and the Indonesian Air Force, as well as officials from the Indonesian Defense Ministry, served during the four-day mission in Dili to provide medical services such as general checkups, dental surgery, early stroke treatment and cataract surgery to locals and Timor Leste military members. The two countries have been forging a better bilateral relationship since Timor Leste formalized its independence from Indonesia following a UN-supervised referendum held in 1999.