Timor-Leste is steadily carving its place in the ASEAN family, with several milestones already achieved under the official roadmap, said ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.
ASEAN leaders are expected to further deliberate on Timor-Leste’s membership bid. (Photo: nst.com.my)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Timor-Leste is steadily carving its place in the ASEAN family, with several milestones already achieved under the official roadmap, said ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn.
He told the press that the country’s engagement in ASEAN meetings has significantly increased this year, adding it attended about 90% of the bloc’s meetings in Quarter 1 of this year as compared to 83% last year.
On the concrete steps taken, Kao highlighted the establishment of a dedicated ASEAN state coordination unit within Timor-Leste's government, a move aimed at aligning the country's internal structure with ASEAN mechanisms.
ASEAN partners attending the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits also discussed these developments, evaluating Timor-Leste's implementation of the membership roadmap, which was endorsed at the 42nd Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, in 2023.
One major factor that could shape the timeline for Timor-Leste's accession is the anticipated adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its four strategic plans, which are expected to be endorsed during this summit, he said.
Timor-Leste's Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas expressed confidence that full membership could be achieved as early as this year.
Timor-Leste was granted observer🌺 status in 2022, mar♈king its first official step into the ASEAN framework./.
The adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, along with four strategies, demonstrates ASEAN's proactive approach, not only adapting to a changing world, but also leading with solidarity, mettle and a common vision.
The ASEAN Community Vision 2045, along with new cooperation strategies, will serve as a framework for joint action, proactive adaptation, and enhanced development in the region, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said, stressing the need for ASEAN to strengthen its resilience, particularly economic resilience, to withstand external shocks.
The ASEAN Summit and Related Summits will bring together leaders from ASEAN member state, Timor-Leste, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
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Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
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The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
