DILI, 13 March 2026 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste leaders and the ASEAN–Korea Centre discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation with the Republic of Korea during a series of meetings and events held in Dili on Friday.
The discussions took place during a visit by the Centre’s Secretary-General, Kim Jae-shin, who met senior government officials and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão highlighted the country’s development potential and prospects for deeper engagement within the ASEAN cooperation framework.
Vice-Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Rangel received Kim to discuss Timor-Leste’s prospective membership in the ASEAN–Korea Centre and ways to expand cooperation between Timor-Leste and South Korea through ASEAN mechanisms.
The talks focused on areas such as trade and investment, tourism, arts and culture, and the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The meeting was followed by a working lunch attended by the ASEAN–Korea Centre delegation, ambassadors from ASEAN member states, ASEAN senior officials representing the organisation’s three pillars, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste.
Earlier in the day, Director-General for ASEAN Affairs Elisa da Silva officially opened a special lecture at the ministry’s Salão Nobre on Timor-Leste’s potential membership in the ASEAN–Korea Centre.
The session, led by Kim, outlined the strategic benefits of membership, including expanded trade and investment opportunities, tourism promotion, support for MSMEs and stronger people-to-people exchanges.
Da Silva thanked the ASEAN–Korea Centre delegation and participating officials from the ministry and ASEAN sectoral bodies for what she described as a productive session.
During his visit, Kim also met Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão at the Government Palace, where both sides explored possibilities for strengthening cooperation between Timor-Leste and South Korea.
Kim and Gusmão explored several possibilities for cooperation between Timor-Leste and South Korea, particularly through the ASEAN–Korea Centre, with emphasis on areas such as trade, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
He said that the prime minister had highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation in micro and small enterprises to support economic development.
Kim said the visit was his first to Timor-Leste and that he had observed significant potential for the country’s development.
He pledged to explore ways to further strengthen the cooperation that his center aims to implement in Timor-Leste, adding that the effort would be coordinated with the South Korean Embassy in Dili and the Timorese Embassy in Seoul.
Established in 2009, the ASEAN–Korea Centre aims to promote trade, encourage investment, boost tourism and strengthen cultural exchanges between South Korea and the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
