Timor-leste President Hopes Asean Dream Will Come True With Malaysia's Chairmanship

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4  (Bernama) -- Timor-Leste President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta is confident that ASEAN will admit his country as the eleventh member when Malaysia becomes the bloc’s chairman next year, unlocking trade and economic potential for the young nation.

According to a statement from the Malaysian Embassy in Timor-Leste, Ramos-Horta said that ASEAN membership will become a reality when Malaysia hosts the ASEAN Summit next year, as Malaysia remains a strong supporter of the resource-rich nation’s bid to join the powerful regional grouping.

Malaysia will take over the rotating ASEAN chairmanship from Laos next year. 

“Timor-Leste’s integration into ASEAN is expected in 2025 under the chairmanship of Malaysia. We are deeply grateful for Malaysia’s steadfast efforts in this process.

“Timor-Leste and Malaysia enjoy a strong and enduring friendship and partnership, which has deepened since the official visit of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad two decades ago. 

“The historic visit marked a new chapter in our robust bilateral ties,” he said in remarks when addressing Malaysia’s 67th National Day ceremony in Timor-Leste’s capital Dili, according to the statement.

Dr Mahathir made his maiden visit to the country in 2003 while in office. 

Timor-Leste was awarded observer status during the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Cambodia in 2022 while Hun Sen was the prime minister, after almost a decade of negotiations for accession.  

Cambodia fully supported Timor-Leste's entry into the bloc. 

Timor-Leste joined the World Trade Organisation in August this year, after seven and a half years of negotiations, making it the 166th member of the global body.

According to the statement, Malaysian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Dato Amarjit Sarjit Singh, reiterated Malaysia's support for the nation at the event, following Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s visit to Dili last month. 

“Despite the protracted absence of such a visit, there was never a let up on all facets of bilateral cooperation. I am now even more encouraged by the prospects of enhanced collaboration between Malaysia and Timor-Leste.

“Malaysia will expand its offering of capacity building beyond mastery of English and negotiations, to assist Timor-Leste in rural development, tourism, the halal industry, and TVET (technical vocational education and training),” he said. 

Malaysia has supported Timor-Leste’s progress since its independence in 2002, providing assistance in security, human resources and institutional capacity building. 

The Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme and the Malaysian Defence Cooperation Programme have played pivotal roles in assisting the nation.

Ramos-Horta also called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to continue his nation-building exercise to position Malaysia as a developed country in ASEAN.

“(In this context) I recognise the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his commitment to alleviating Malaysia as a technologically advanced and economically strong nation. His leadership enhances Malaysia's global standing,” he noted.

Malaysia and Timor-Leste’s bilateral trade stood at RM197 million in 2023 with total exports recorded at RM195 million, while total imports from the country valued at RM 1.7 million.

-- BERNAMA