DILI, 20 January 2026 (TATOLI) – Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Rangel announced that eight ASEAN member states have already established embassies in Timor-Leste.
Rangel emphasized that following Timor-Leste’s official admission as a full ASEAN member on October 26, 2025, the government is encouraging all ASEAN countries to open embassies in Dili to strengthen bilateral cooperation and reinforce the spirit of the ASEAN family in the region.
“We became a full member of ASEAN on October 26, 2025. Currently, eight ASEAN countries have established embassies in Timor-Leste. Two countries – Cambodia and Myanmar, have not yet done so, but bilateral negotiations are ongoing. We hope that in the near future they will also establish embassies, further enhancing cooperation among the 11 ASEAN member states,” Vice Minister Rangel told reporters after the handover of land and property to the Government of Lao PDR in Farol, Dili, on Tuesday.
Rangel added that Timor-Leste is prepared to provide land and property to ASEAN member states for the establishment of embassies, with the aim of strengthening bilateral ties and fostering unity among the ASEAN family.
The ASEAN nations with resident embassies in Timor-Leste are: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Laos.
ASEAN member states established embassies in Dili primarily to support Timor-Leste’s recent accession, deepen regional integration, promote peace and prosperity, and facilitate economic cooperation in areas such as trade, digital innovation, and connectivity. The shared goal is to build a resilient Southeast Asian community and provide Timor-Leste with a stronger pathway to regional participation.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
