KUALA LUMPUR, 26 October 2025 (TATOLI) – After 14 years of waiting since submitting its bid in 2011, Timor-Leste has officially become the 11th member of ASEAN.
The accession ends a long wait and marks a historic milestone for both ASEAN and Timor-Leste.
The Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN was signed during the opening ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
Timor-Leste’s official admission to ASEAN marks the bloc’s first expansion in 26 years.
The Declaration on the Admission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste into ASEAN was signed by all ASEAN Leaders today during the 47th ASEAN Summit held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, including Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.The ceremony symbolized the culmination of more than two decades of aspiration, preparation, and a steadfast commitment by Timor-Leste to become part of the ASEAN family.
The ceremony symbolized the culmination of more than two decades of aspiration, preparation, and a steadfast commitment by Timor-Leste to become part of the ASEAN family.
Presiding over this landmark occasion, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão signed the declaration with a radiant smile- a moment that captured the pride and emotion of the Timorese people. His expression reflected the finality of Timor-Leste’s accession and the nation’s readiness to stand shoulder to shoulder with its regional neighbors.
In a gesture of welcome, the Secretary General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn formally handed the Declaration to the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, officially recognizing the country’s full membership.
Speaking at the ceremony, ASEAN leaders commend Timor-Leste’s perseverance, democratic progress, and unwavering commitment to regional cooperation. The milestone was met with applause from all heads of state, celebrating the unity and inclusiveness that define ASEAN’s community spirit.
For the people of Timor-Leste, this day resonates deeply. It is a moment that embodies national pride, resilience and hope – a collective achievement for a nation that, after years of rebuilding and growth, has earned its place among the region’s family of nations.
From the island of Jaco to the mountains of Ainaro, from the shores of Oe-cusse to the depths of Ataúro and to the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the joy of this achievement echoes across every Timorese heart. It marks not just the end of a journey – but the beginning of a new era of partnership, peace, and prosperity with ASEAN. Parabéns Povo Maubere no Buibere!
With its admission, Timor-Leste — the region’s youngest nation — becomes the final country in Southeast Asia to complete the bloc’s geographical representation, following Cambodia’s accession in April 1999.
In his key address at the summit, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized Malaysia’s pivotal role as this year’s ASEAN Chair and stressed that unity, dialogue, and cooperation are essential for tackling rising global challenges: “Timor-Leste’s historic admission into ASEAN gives new meaning to this vision,” he said.
Ibrahim said Timor-Leste’s place in ASEAN completes the bloc family, reaffirming “our shared destiny and deep sense of regional kinship.”
He congratulated Timor-Leste’s President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão for their leadership in leading the country to its accession to the bloc.
“With Timor-Leste joining, the bloc grows not just in size, but in spirit,” said Prime Minister Ibrahim. “The future of Asean will be written by choice — by the choices we make today.”
Prime Minister Ibrahim also pointed to several ongoing initiatives, including efforts to promote peace in Myanmar, increase trade within the region, and accelerate the shift toward sustainable energy and digital transformation.
The admission of Timor-Leste aligns with ASEAN’s current push to enhance economic ties, digital connectivity, sustainable development, and peace and stability within the region.
At the formal ceremony, Prime Minister Gusmão declared the accession a historic day as the flag of Timor-Leste was officially raised alongside those of the ten other member nations.
He said Timor-Leste’s accession to the bloc is a continuation of ASEAN’s vision: “a truly united family of nations bound together by shared values, common aspirations, and collective destiny.”
“On behalf of the government and the people of Timor-Leste, I extend our deepest gratitude to all ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Chair, the ASEAN Secretariat, and all dialogue partners. Your trust, encouragement, and unwavering solidarity have made this historic day possible,” said Gusmão.
Journalist: Digna Serrão
Editor: Filomeno Martins
