DILI, 22 january 2025 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic Jose Ramos Horta held a bilateral meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn at the Davos Congress Center, focusing on Timor-Leste’s ongoing process of joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
During the meeting, the two discussed Timor-Leste’s progress in meeting ASEAN accession roadmap requirements and strategic next steps for full integration.
“Key topics included regional cooperation, diplomatic presence, and alignment of membership timelines,” said in a statement.
Prior to the bilateral meeting, a brief trilateral greeting occurred involving President Ramos-Horta, the ASEAN Secretary-General, and Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, highlighting mutual interest in fostering strategic relations within Southeast Asia and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).
On the same day, Horta also held an informal meeting with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.
The President congratulated Okonjo-Iweala on her reappointment for a second term, recognizing her notable leadership in strengthening the multilateral trade system. Their dialogue focused on Timor-Leste’s commitment to aligning national policies with WTO standards to maximize the benefits of full organizational membership.
Ramos-Horta expressed Timor-Leste’s desire to continue receiving technical and institutional support from the WTO to consolidate economic progress and promote inclusive, sustainable trade contributing to national and regional development.
TATOLI
