DILI, 08 April 2026 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dionisio Babo Soares, delivered the keynote address at the Asia-Pacific Conference (APC) 2026, held at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The conference, themed “Redefining the Role of the Asia-Pacific in a Changing World Order,” focused on the region’s evolving geopolitical and economic landscape.
In his address, Ambassador Babo Soares emphasized that the global order is undergoing major shifts driven by rising geopolitical tensions, rapid technological change, and climate pressures.
He said that in this context, the Asia-Pacific region is positioned at the center of global transformation, not the margins.
Soares argued that regional cooperation is essential for maintaining stability, fostering economic growth, and supporting a rules-based international system.
The Ambassador highlighted the region’s strong economic performance, deep interdependence, and the growing influence of major and emerging economies. At the same time, he stressed that economic success must be supported by political stability, good governance, and collective security efforts—especially in safeguarding trade routes and addressing shared challenges like cyber threats, climate change, and global conflicts through dialogue and multilateralism.
Soares underscored the importance of inclusive cooperation, particularly for smaller and vulnerable states, and called for stronger regional and global partnerships. He outlined key priorities such as economic integration, institutional stability, security cooperation, and leadership in global issues. The Ambassador concluded by encouraging future leaders to embrace cooperation over fragmentation and actively shape a more stable, inclusive world order.
Joining the Panel Discussion on Geopolitics, the Ambassador shared how Timor-Leste views its accession to ASEAN as a commitment to regional unity and shared resilience at a time of growing global instability and strategic competition. Rather than positioning itself as a dominant actor, it seeks to contribute modestly to ASEAN centrality by strengthening collective efforts toward peace, economic stability, and cooperation.
“Drawing from its own experiences—such as reconciliation with Indonesia and peaceful dispute resolution with Australia—Timor-Leste emphasizes dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to international law as essential tools for maintaining regional stability,” said Ambassador Soares.
Looking ahead, Timor-Leste aspires to act as a “neutrality anchor” that promotes balance and trust within Southeast Asia. It aims to support peacebuilding initiatives, uphold ASEAN’s norms and rule-based framework, and focus on practical cooperation in areas like environmental protection and food security. By addressing shared challenges beyond politics, Timor-Leste hopes to foster solidarity and reinforce ASEAN as a resilient, unified bloc capable of navigating external pressures while safeguarding regional peace.
TATOLI
