ASEAN Foreign Ministers Express Commitment For Timor-Leste's Full Membership

By Yasmin Ahmad Zukiman

LANGKAWI, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- ASEAN foreign ministers today welcomed Timor-Leste's progress in implementing the roadmap for the country's full membership.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the ministers also expressed commitment to facilitate Timor-Leste’s accession to the regional bloc.

"Many highlighted the need to support Timor-Leste’s efforts through capacity-building and specific technical support programmes," he told a press conference after the conclusion of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ (AMM) Retreat here today.

Timor-Leste was represented by its Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, at the meeting.

Meanwhile, in an interview on the sidelines of the AMM Retreat, Bendito Frietas expressed optimism that Malaysia as the 2025 ASEAN chair will play a decisive role in facilitating Timor-Leste’s acceptance as a full member of the bloc.

He lauded Malaysia’s unwavering support and its leadership capacity to guide the historic process.

"Since Timor-Leste was accepted in principle in the 40th and 41st Summits in Cambodia and Phnom Penh in 2022, Timor-Leste has actively involved and engaged in all the events, summits and meetings.

"With the current chairmanship of Malaysia, we expect very much that with full support from Malaysia," he said.

Bendito Freitas, who was on his second participation in the retreat as an ASEAN observer, described 2025 as a pivotal year for Timor-Leste, calling it a “decisive and historic moment” for his country. 

He emphasised that Timor-Leste’s inclusion would enrich ASEAN’s unity and centrality, adding a new dimension to its diplomatic and international relations.

“Timor-Leste, I think, is small as we are, but we have our voices in diplomacy, in international relations,  also combined with other member states of ASEAN, we can be one power, one voice together as ASEAN voice, reinforcing unity and centrality.

“… especially that we are also identifying ourselves as a regional bloc with the potential to bring peace, development, resiliency and stability for the humankind," he said.

Timor-Leste, which gained independence in May 20, 2022, formally applied to join ASEAN in 2011.

In November 2022, during the chairmanship of Cambodia, Timor-Leste was in-principle admitted as the 11th member of ASEAN.

The 10 ASEAN member countries agreed to grant observer status to Timor-Leste, allowing its participation in all ASEAN meetings, including the Summit plenaries.

At the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, in May 2023, ASEAN adopted a roadmap for Timor-Leste’s full membership along with its annexes and encouraged Timor-Leste to intensify its efforts in preparing for full ASEAN membership.

The two-day AMM Retreat in Langkawi is the first major meeting under Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025, setting the stage for a busy and significant year ahead.

Malaysia has previously chaired ASEAN in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.

-- BERNAMA