Timor-Leste strengthens role in ASEAN – RoK cooperation

In the context of Timor-Leste’s recent accession as the 11th member of ASEAN, the two foreign ministers also discussed ways to enhance the RoK – ASEAN cooperation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the RoK Cho Tae-yul (Photo: Yonhaps/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Timor-Leste stands ready to serve as a bridge to help expand the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s presence and engagement in Southeast Asia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste Bendito dos Santos Freitas told Minister of Foreign Affairs of the RoK Cho Tae-yul.

Bendito made the affirmation during the talks with Cho as part of his recent official visit to the RoK.

The Tatoli news agency of Timor-Leste reported that at this landmark meeting, the two sides reaffirmed the strong bilateral relations and discussed orientations to promote cooperation across a wide range of key areas, including labour mobility, trade and investment, energy, green industry, education, human resources development, public safety, maritime security, transnational crime prevention, and people-to-people exchanges.

Bendito highlighted Timor-Leste’s young population structure as a key strategic asset for national development, expressing his country’s strong interest in learning from the RoK’s development experience, particularly in harnessing the demographic dividend.

In the context of Timor-Leste’s recent accession as the 11th member of ASEAN, the two ministers also discussed ways to enhance the RoK – ASEAN cooperation.

The RoK side pledged to explore opportunities to support Timor-Leste in assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2028.

The two ministers also exchanged views on regional and international developments, reaffirming their shared commitment to peace, stability, multilateralism, and a rules-based international order. They expressed confidence that the outcomes of the meeting will help elevate the Timor-Leste – RoK relations toward a dynamic, forward-looking, and mutually beneficial partnership./.

VNA