DILI: Timor-Leste has welcomed the statement from ASEAN Leaders on the motion to, “in-principle,” admit Timor-Leste as the 11th Member of ASEAN.

In a press statement issued by the VIII Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste on Friday, 11 November, the government says it looks forward to working with the incoming ASEAN Chairmanship, Indonesia, on the official process of Timor-Leste’s admittance into the ASEAN bloc.

“We are delighted to collaborate and work with ASEAN Coordinating Council and the ASEAN Secretariat towards preparation of the Roadmap and for Timor-Leste's full membership including the milestones identified in the reports of the Fact-Finding Missions,” said the statement.

Timor-Leste further requests ASEAN Member States to grant full membership to the island nation in 2023 “following eleven years of preparation and the adoption of the Roadmap and report to the 42nd ASEAN Summit.”

“We acknowledge and thank the continuous assistance and full support from ASEAN Member States, especially to the Kingdom of Cambodia for the unwavering support and our appreciation to external partners for providing capacity building assistance,” the statement added.