Timor-Leste attends first Asean summit as observer, vows to be unwavering partner

Timor-Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak pledges that his country will take steps towards full Asean membership. - AFP

LABUAN BAJO (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Timor-Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak made his debut appearance at the Asean Summit on Wednesday (May 10), pledging to undertake the steps in a road map towards full Asean membership for his impoverished country.

“It is a great honour and privilege to participate, for the first time, in this grand summit of Asean leaders,” he told South-East Asian leaders at the Meruorah Komodo Labuan Bajo hotel in the fishing town of Labuan Bajo, in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province.