PHNOM PENH: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prak Sokhonn, outlined Cambodia's intention as ASEAN chair in 2022 to aid Timor-Leste's membership to ASEAN, after the country has been an observer of the union for many years.

Cambodia is one of the ASEAN member countries that strongly supports Timor-Leste’s candidacy for ASEAN, as Prime Minister Hun Sen noted in 2006 that the situation in Timor-Leste was similar to when Cambodia first applied for ASEAN membership.

Speaking at a briefing program on Cambodia's priorities as chair of ASEAN 2022 on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn highlighted four challenges in ASEAN, including economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, ASEAN geopolitical challenges, security challenges and internal challenges.

The Foreign Minister noted that ASEAN's priorities as ASEAN Chair in 2022 are to promote peace, prosperity, enhance regional contribution to world peace and increase momentum and expand partnerships with external partners. He added that in 2022, Cambodia wants to do something to ease the situation in Myanmar, as well as to welcome Timor-Leste into ASEAN.

Addressing the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits on 26 October 2021, Prime Minister Hun Sen urged all ASEAN leaders to consider the possibility of including Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN as soon as possible to avoid geopolitical competition that endangers the union.

"I am concerned about the geopolitical competition in the region if ASEAN continues to isolate Timor-Leste, this is an issue that we should be concerned about as Timor-Leste will choose a viable alternative," he said. "I urge you to expedite our political decision to let Timor-Leste join our ASEAN framework."

Since gaining independence from Indonesia in 2002, Timor-Leste has repeatedly expressed its desire to join ASEAN.

In 2011, the country filed an official application for ASEAN membership, however, this intention was not welcomed by most members. Timor-Leste is currently an ASEAN observer, and the ASEAN Working Group is in the process of examining the country's political, economic and cultural situation before deciding whether to allow its membership.