According to a live broadcast by Malaysia’s national news agency BERNAMA, the signing of the declaration marked the formal acceptance of Timor-Leste as the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In addition to President Prabowo, the declaration was signed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Brunei Darussalam’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Myanmar was represented by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs U Hau Khan Sum, while Timor-Leste was represented by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.
With Timor-Leste’s accession, ASEAN now comprises 11 member states: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.
The new membership completes the geographical representation of Southeast Asia within the regional bloc, which was established in 1967.
Indonesia welcomed Timor-Leste’s admission as the 11th ASEAN member during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
“This is not the end, but rather the beginning for Timor-Leste to complete its internal processes, and for all of us to support the country’s full integration into ASEAN,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said, as quoted in a written statement by the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta on Saturday (Oct. 25).
Timor-Leste also formally submitted its instruments of accession to the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) on Saturday (Oct. 25).
Timor-Leste’s participation in SEANWFZ is expected to further strengthen ASEAN’s efforts to build a secure and peaceful region.
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Translator: Fathur, Aria Ananda
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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