Bilateral Meeting: Timor-Leste and ASEAN
Secretary-General Discuss Accession to ASEAN
Desaru, Johor, Malaysia, 27 February 2025
The Minister of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste, H.E. Nino Pereira, held a bilateral meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn on the sidelines of the 31st ASEAN Economic Ministers' Retreat (AEM Retreat) in Desaru, Johor, Malaysia.
The meeting aimed to discuss Timor-Leste’s progress in its accession to ASEAN, with a particular focus on its integration into the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
Minister Nino Pereira provided an update on Timor-Leste’s efforts to align with ASEAN Economic Community Legal Instruments, reaffirming the country's commitment to fulfilling ASEAN’s economic requirements.
He expressed gratitude for the ongoing technical assistance and capacity-building support from the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) and ASEAN Member States (AMS), highlighting the importance of continued cooperation to facilitate a smooth integration into the regional bloc.
Dr. Kao acknowledged Timor-Leste’s significant progress toward full ASEAN membership and encouraged its technical officials to actively participate in ASEAN meetings. He emphasized the importance of Timor-Leste contributing its perspectives on key agenda items discussed within ASEAN.
The Secretary-General also noted that one of the key objectives of the 31st AEM Retreat was to discuss Timor-Leste’s accession and economic integration. He recommended that the Government of Timor-Leste engage the private sector in the accession process, stressing its crucial role in strengthening economic ties within ASEAN. Additionally, he reaffirmed the ASEAN Secretariat’s commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s integration efforts through capacity-building initiatives.
Timor-Leste remains committed to achieving full ASEAN membership, with economic integration as a top priority in its accession process, supported by the ASEAN Secretariat.
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