Timor-Leste prepares to join bloc after over a decade of effort
PUTRAJAYA: Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has arrived in Malaysia early, excited about a “big announcement” tomorrow.
When asked if was looking forward to the “big announcement”, Gusmao smiled and replied: “Of course, I came for this.”
The special aircraft carrying Gusmao and his delegation landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport where Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil received them.
He was the first leader to arrive, reflecting his nation’s commitment to regional engagement.
Timor-Leste first formally applied for Asean membership in March 2011, nearly a decade after gaining independence in 2002.
During the 40th and 41st summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2022, Asean agreed to admit Timor-Leste as the 11th member, granting it observer status.
At the 2023 summit in Indonesia, leaders adopted a roadmap for Timor-Leste’s full membership.
Early this month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that Timor-Leste will be officially made a full member of Asean on Oct 26.
Timor-Leste is also seeking to expand the country’s trade and economy through its participation in the 26th Asean Economic Community Council (AECC) meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay said.
He expressed hope that his country would gain more opportunities to trade with Asean member states in the future, Bernama reported.
“The AECC meeting offers Timor-Leste a better prospect in creating more avenues for economic opportunities and to learn from the greater Asean family,” he said after attending the 26th AECC meeting at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.
The meeting was chaired by Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Kalbuadi Lay also expressed his appreciation for Malaysia’s assistance – particularly that of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – in supporting Timor-Leste’s bid for full Asean membership.
