DILI, 10 april 2023 ( TATOLI)- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation ( MoFAC) and the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs (MCAE) today organize the Development Partner Meeting (DPM) to present the priority program of Timor – Leste’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) to the International Development Partner to support Timor – Leste’s.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adaljiza Magno, said this meeting is to provide an update on Timor-Leste’s steady progress towards ASEAN accession and integration.
“The Development Partners Meeting is participated by various ministries, Diplomatic Corps, United Nations and its Specialised Agencies, and International Organizations participating in a robust dialogue to enhance Timor-Leste’s capacity to implement the objective criteria-based Roadmap for full ASEAN membership,” Minister Magno told reporters at the office of the Ministry of Finance, Aitrak -Laran, Dili on monday.
Minister Magno explained over the past few years, Timor – Leste’s Development Partners have been heavily involved in Timor-Leste’s capacity-building efforts, to develop Timor – Leste’s technical readiness towards ASEAN accession. As such, this discussion is focused on Timor-Leste’s harmonization with the frameworks and standards of the three pillars of ASEAN: the Political-Security Community (APSC), the Economic Community (AEC), and the Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).
She added that the Development Partners Meeting marks an important milestone in Timor-Leste’s ASEAN accession journey, both for thanking Timor – Leste’s Development Partners for their continuous cooperation as well as our collective commitment to work on capacity-building and negotiations.
“Timor-Leste looks forward to sharing our progress during the Development Partners Meeting. In this meeting, Australia committed to supporting $ 8 million and European Union also will support $ 3 million to Timor – Leste to prepare the human resources and infrastructure development before being admitted to ASEAN in the short term, she concluded.
Journalist : Camilio de Sousa
Edotor: Nelia B.
