DILI, 04 September 2025 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste, during a Council of Ministers meeting held on Wednesday (September 3), approved six draft Government Resolutions presented by Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel. These resolutions form part of Timor-Leste’s commitments outlined in the Roadmap for full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The approved resolutions include:
- Accession to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP): Adopted in Kuala Lumpur in 2002, this agreement promotes cooperation among ASEAN Member States to prevent, monitor, and mitigate forest fires and their transboundary effects. It encourages an integrated approach to environmental risk management and supports humanitarian assistance, information sharing, and technical capacity building to enhance regional resilience to natural and human-made disasters.
- Accession to the Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity: Established in 2005 and headquartered in the Philippines, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity supports conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity across Member States. It facilitates regional cooperation, provides technical and scientific assistance, and mobilizes financial resources for joint environmental initiatives. Timor-Leste’s accession will strengthen its institutional capacity in environmental protection and allow full integration into regional technical networks.
- Accession to the ASEAN University Network (AUN) Charter: This charter establishes a network of leading universities across Southeast Asia to promote academic, scientific, and technical collaboration. It supports student mobility, joint research, innovation, and training programs. Timor-Leste’s participation ensures its universities are represented on the AUN Board of Trustees and gain full access to the network’s initiatives.
- Accession to the Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Active Aging and Innovation (ACAI): Adopted in May 2020, this agreement created an intergovernmental organization based in Thailand focused on promoting policies for active, healthy, and productive aging. The center serves as a hub for knowledge and innovation, supporting public policy development, scientific research, and capacity-building programs to improve the quality of life for older adults.
- Accession to the Ministerial Understanding on ASEAN Cooperation in Tourism: Signed in 1998, this framework promotes ASEAN as a unified and integrated tourism destination. It encourages joint efforts to enhance tourism, facilitate regional travel, strengthen public-private partnerships, and develop infrastructure, training, and exchange programs.
- Accession to the Ministerial Understanding on ASEAN Cooperation in Minerals: Signed in 2005, this agreement fosters collaboration in developing the minerals sector, promoting trade and investment, and encouraging responsible and sustainable management practices. It also supports the creation of a regional database, research initiatives, and technology transfer programs.
Additionally, the Government approved a financial contribution to the ASEAN Secretariat to cover logistical and administrative costs associated with Timor-Leste’s full membership.
During the meeting, Vice Minister Milena Maria da Costa Rangel also presented the logistical preparations for Timor-Leste’s official ASEAN accession ceremony, scheduled to take place in Malaysia on October 26, 2025.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
