Timor-Leste eyes October deadline

New Straits Times

29-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Timor-Leste is confident that it can clear all hurdles in time to secure full Asean membership by October.
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão said the nation has fulfilled more than 80 per cent of the bloc's entry requirements and is racing to wrap up the remainder.
Buoyed by strong support from Malaysia, particularly Asean chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Gusmão said he is confident Timor-Leste will soon join as the regional bloc's 11th member.
"I'm very confident because my friend and brother, Anwar Ibrahim, has given his full support.
"I'm also confident because all the countries have said, 'Yes, you must do everything that is still needed to become a member.'
"We have to begin fulfilling the remaining requirements.
"The main challenge is completing all preparations. We can say that we've achieved more than 80 per cent.
"Our immediate task is to send the laws to Parliament," he said.
On Tuesday, Anwar announced that the bloc had agreed to accept Timor-Leste as a full member, pending the completion of legal requirements under the Asean Foreign Ministers (AFM) framework.
Anwar said Asean will do "whatever is necessary" to ensure that Timor-Leste becomes the bloc's latest member by October.
Timor-Leste, the youngest nation in Southeast Asia, has been pursuing full Asean membership since gaining independence in 2002.
The country formally applied for membership in 2011.
During the Asean Summit in Cambodia in 2022, Timor-Leste was admitted in principle as Asean's 11th member and granted observer status.
STRONG POLITICAL WILL
Gusmão said there is strong political will across Timor-Leste's leadership to see the membership process through.
"Just yesterday, our parliamentary speaker attended the AIPA (Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly) meeting and has become aware of the steps required.
"I believe that once she returns to Dili (Timor-Leste's capital), she will do everything she can to convince Parliament to approve the remaining laws."
He said some of the legal instruments required for membership need to be ratified by Parliament.
"As I understand it, certain laws must first be approved by Parliament, then sent to the president for promulgation, before final ratification.
"That's why we are doing everything to become a full Asean member by October."
He said Malaysia has been politically and technically supportive, helping Timor-Leste understand Asean's requirements and guiding the country through the membership process.
He added that other member states have also offered assistance, including a personal assurance from Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
CONTRIBUTING TO ASEAN
Gusmão acknowledged that Timor-Leste, as a young nation, cannot expect to make immediate, significant contributions to Asean upon joining.
He said participation will be an ongoing, year-by-year process.
Timor-Leste, he said, plans to leverage its membership to boost its capabilities, particularly in human resource development.
"At the Asean-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) China Summit, one of the issues that was brought up was people-to-people relations, human resource development and skills exchange.
"We will seize the opportunity to learn more, for the benefit of our people.
"We cannot immediately say that we can export something," he said.
He said some areas Timor-Leste could leverage include agriculture, where the focus is on improving food security.
"During the summit, everyone, including Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, talked about agriculture.
"As a small, mountainous country facing climate change challenges, we face additional difficulties. If successful practices work elsewhere, we can adopt them to boost our ability to feed our people."
He highlighted the importance of respecting the unique circumstances of each Asean nation and noted that understanding neighbours' cultures and ways of life is essential to building strong regional ties.
A MEANINGFUL SUMMIT
Asked for his views on the Asean Summit and its related meetings, he described the event as highly significant, especially due to the depth and value of the exchanges.
"It was meaningful due to the openness and exchange of ideas. Anwar presented what Malaysia, as chairman, would do this year, and the theme was inclusivity and sustainability.
"There were productive discussions on this, but it was even more meaningful because he also presented a draft of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration On Asean 2045.
"It was wonderful, and it also pointed to more integration between countries in all areas, making it significant."
He also described the summit between Asean, GCC and China as significant, as all parties had begun exploring ways to boost cooperation amid the challenging global environment.
He said they also reaffirmed their commitment to international law and humanitarian rights, particularly for Palestinians in Gaza, during a time of uncertainty and tension.
"The three parties expressed commitment to deepen cooperation in economic security, peace, political dialogue and human rights advocacy.