Timor-Leste’s Entry Completes ASEAN Family, Says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today described Timor-Leste’s historic admission into ASEAN as a milestone that reaffirms the bloc’s shared destiny and enduring spirit of regional kinship.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits here, Anwar said Timor-Leste’s inclusion gives new meaning to the vision of an inclusive and united ASEAN.

“Timor-Leste’s place here completes the ASEAN family - reaffirming our shared destiny and deep sense of regional kinship. Within this community, Timor-Leste’s development and its strategic autonomy will find firm and lasting support,” he said.

All ASEAN member states signed the declaration – namely the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah; Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim; Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Manet; Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto; Laos’ Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone; Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.; Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong; Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul; and Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, while Myanmar was represented by its Foreign Ministry’s Permanent Secretary U Hau Khan Sum.

Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao signed the declaration formalising his nation’s participation in ASEAN.

ASEAN, established in 1967, now comprises 11 members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste’s accession completes the geographical representation of Southeast Asia. Before this, the last country admitted to the bloc was Cambodia, on April 30, 1999. The youngest nation in the region gained its independence on May 20, 2002. In 2011, it formally applied to join ASEAN, marking a decade-long journey to meet the bloc’s economic and institutional benchmarks.

Major progress came in 2022, when ASEAN leaders at the 40th and 41st Summits in Phnom Penh agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member, and granted it observer status to participate in ASEAN meetings, including summits.

At the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Indonesia, leaders adopted a Roadmap for Timor-Leste’s Full Membership focusing on institutional strengthening, human capital development and capacity-building support.

With a population of about 1.4 million, Timor-Leste remains heavily reliant on oil and gas exports, while agriculture and services are increasingly contributing to national revenue. Its GDP grew by 3.4 per cent in 2024 to US$1.99 billion and is projected to expand by 3.9 per cent in 2025 amid easing inflation and improving fiscal stability.

-- BERNAMA