Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Timor-Leste is steadily carving its place in the ASEAN family, with several milestones already achieved under the official roadmap, said ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.
He told the press that the country’s engagement in ASEAN meetings has significantly increased this year, adding it attended about 90% of the bloc’s meetings in Quarter 1 of this year as compared to 83% last year.
On the concrete steps taken, Kao highlighted the establishment of a dedicated ASEAN state coordination unit within Timor-Leste's government, a move aimed at aligning the country's internal structure with ASEAN mechanisms.
ASEAN partners attending the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits also discussed these developments, evaluating Timor-Leste's implementation of the membership roadmap, which was endorsed at the 42nd Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, in 2023.
One major factor that could shape the timeline for Timor-Leste's accession is the anticipated adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its four strategic plans, which are expected to be endorsed during this summit, he said.
Timor-Leste's Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas expressed confidence that full membership could be achieved as early as this year.
Timor-Leste was granted observer status in 2022, marking its first official step into the ASEAN framework./.
Leaders sign Kuala Lumpur Declaration “ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future”
The adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, along with four strategies, demonstrates ASEAN's proactive approach, not only adapting to a changing world, but also leading with solidarity, mettle and a common vision.
