JAKARTA, 1 August 2025 – President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste today concluded his official visit to the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat.
The official visit featured a series of significant events, including an Interface with the Secretary-General of ASEAN, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) and the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, as well as delivery of a Policy Speech. These events were attended by members of the diplomatic corps in Jakarta, representatives of entities associated with ASEAN, academia and think tanks, business representatives, and staff members of the ASEAN Secretariat.
During the Policy Speech, President José Ramos-Horta emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared challenges. He stated, “regional integration must ultimately benefit the people in the region through prosperity and peace. Timor-Leste, is regularly reviewing its national legislations to keep in touch with the regional commitment.”
In his opening remarks, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, acknowledged President Ramos-Horta’s leadership and commitment to regional integration. SG Dr. Kao further emphasised that, “Today’s gathering holds profound significance as we look ahead to Timor-Leste’s expected accession as the 11th Member State of ASEAN at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, in October 2025. This historic step affirms ASEAN’s unwavering commitment to building a Community that is inclusive, cohesive, and resilient. In an increasingly complex and uncertain world, Timor-Leste’s journey toward full membership underscores ASEAN’s ability to evolve while remaining anchored in the core values of peace, cooperation, and regional solidarity.’’
“Timor-Leste has demonstrated admirable resilience, steadfast dedication, and a deep alignment with ASEAN’s fundamental principles and norms. Its forthcoming integration will not only enrich the ASEAN Community but also fortify our shared commitment to peace, stability, good governance, and inclusive development,” concluded SG Dr. Kao.
President Ramos-Horta’s official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s steadfast dedication to deepening regional cooperation and actively contributing to ASEAN’s future direction and community building. The official visit provided a platform for high-level discussions on critical regional issues and further solidified and strengthened relations, cooperation, and partnership between Timor-Leste and ASEAN.
