Asean Senior Officials' Meeting Discusses Preparations For Timor-leste's Membership

By Kenny Teng

VIENTIANE, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) convened on Monday to discuss key matters, including preparations for Timor-Leste’s accession as a full ASEAN member.

The meeting was chaired by Lao Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thongphane Savanphet, who is also the ASEAN SOM leader.

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Malaysia's Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin, other ASEAN SOM leaders, Timor-Leste's SOM leader, the deputy secretary-general of ASEAN for the ASEAN Political-Security Community, and ASEAN delegates took part in the meeting.

Thongphane said ASEAN SOM reviewed and took stock of the progress made towards strengthening the ASEAN community through the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.

The officials recognised Laos’ achievements in nine priority areas under its 2024 chairmanship, including the development of strategic plans to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

He highlighted that the meeting reviewed ASEAN’s external relations, stressing the importance of strengthening ASEAN unity and centrality through ASEAN-led mechanisms.

It also discussed the number of applications from non-regional countries seeking to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

“Additionally, we reviewed the arrangements for the signing ceremony of the Instrument of Accession to the TAC by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, scheduled for Oct 10," Thongphane said in a statement. 

Senior officials also discussed the extensive preparations for the upcoming 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, to be held from Oct 9 to 11 in Vientiane.

These included discussions on the ASEAN leaders’ programmes and the outcome documents that will be considered during the week-long high-level meetings.

More than 20 heads of government from ASEAN-member states and ASEAN dialogue partners, as well as representatives from international and regional organisations, are scheduled to participate in 16 high-level meetings during the summits.

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan is expected to kick off the summits tomorrow with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

The opening ceremony of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits will take place on Oct 9 at the National Convention Centre.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to deliver an address, outlining Malaysia's perspectives and priorities within the ASEAN framework.

On Oct 11, Laos will officially hand over the ASEAN chairmanship to Malaysia.

Malaysia will officially convene as ASEAN chairman on Jan 1, 2025.

Laos has previously chaired ASEAN in 2004 and 2016.

-- BERNAMA