Timor Leste reaffirms desire to join ASEAN

Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta (left) and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Timor Leste President JoseRamos-Horta said on July 19 that he wants to help his nation boost trade withIndonesia and realise its bid to become a member of the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.

Ramos-Horta was quoted by the Channel News Asia as saying at his meeting with the Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo,during a visit to the country, that "Timor Leste as part of Southeast Asia has fulfilled many of therequirements necessary for a functioning economy and democracy so ... will be aproductive member of ASEAN."

He said he hoped his country could join the bloc whenIndonesia takes over the ASEAN presidency in 2023.

Timor Leste, which applied for ASEAN membership in 2011,currently holds a observer status.

According to Widodo, Indonesia has invested 818 million USDin Timor Leste, mainly in energy, banking and communication businesses. Indonesia’sofficial data, meanwhile, showed that trade between the countries was worth around 250million USD last year./.

VNA