Timor-Leste participates in the 3rd ASEAN Regional Forum Workshop on Urban Emergency Search and Rescue
NANNING, 18 September 2026 (TATOLI) — Timor-Leste takes part in the 3rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Urban Emergency Rescue in Nanning, China, as regional countries strengthen cooperation on disaster prevention, emergency response and urban resilience.
The five-day workshop, being held from September 17 to 21, brings together more than 400 participants, including senior officials from the 27 ARF participants, representatives of international organisations, the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).
The workshop is co-chaired by China, Lao PDR and Malaysia under the theme “Artificial Intelligence Empowering Urban Emergency Rescue.” It focuses on urban disaster prevention and control, emergency rescue capacity, cross-border coordination and the use of emerging technologies in disaster response.
Timor-Leste’s delegation is led by Aníbal Paulo de Oliveira Maia, National Director of the Fire Department under the Civil Protection Authority, and includes firefighters Cesário Silva and Victorino Lopes.
TATOLI President Noémio Mateus Soares Falcão and journalist Filomeno Martins also attend the workshop as media representatives from Timor-Leste.
The participation marks one of Timor-Leste’s engagements in the ARF’s regional emergency-rescue cooperation following the country’s admission to ASEAN last year.
The programme includes a Senior Officials’ Meeting, four thematic seminars, a multinational multi-hazard field exercise, an exhibition of intelligent fire and rescue technologies and an artificial intelligence fire and rescue innovation competition roadshow.
Participants are also examining ways to improve coordination in disaster response and share experience in prevention, mitigation, emergency search and rescue and humanitarian assistance.
As part of the programme, representatives visited an exhibition of intelligent fire and rescue technologies at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center.
They also observed a multinational multi-hazard field exercise involving the China Guangxi Search and Rescue Team, 21 Chinese and international rescue teams from 11 countries and more than 300 rescue personnel.
The exercise demonstrated the use of technologies such as underwater robots, robotic firefighting dogs and large multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicles in earthquake, geological disaster and water-rescue operations.
The opening ceremony was attended by Zhou Tian, Vice Minister of Emergency Management and Administrator of the National Fire and Rescue Administration; Huang Rusheng, Vice Governor of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; Khonsavanh Bounliang, Vice Minister of Public Security of Lao PDR; and Zulkefli bin Sulaiman, Deputy Secretary-General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
He Ning, Deputy Administrator of the National Fire and Rescue Administration, also introduced the China-ASEAN Disaster Management and Rescue Cooperation Center.
The opening ceremony included a “Joining Forces for Cooperation” ceremony marking the establishment of the China-ASEAN Disaster Management and Rescue Cooperation Center.
The center is intended to support cooperation between China and ASEAN on emergency-response technology, personnel training, joint exercises and cross-border disaster-response coordination. It will also serve as a base for the China Guangxi Search and Rescue Team and a training platform for the application of artificial intelligence in fire and rescue operations.
Speaking at the High-Level Officials Meeting of the workshop, Aníbal Maia highlighted the importance of strengthening regional cooperation between China and ASEAN countries in responding to emergencies and disasters.
“International cooperation is essential,” he said.
Maia said strengthening Timor-Leste’s emergency search and rescue capabilities remained an important national priority as the country continued to develop its emergency response system.
“Our country is still developing its emergency response system. We need to continue improving our training, equipment, procedures, communications, and specialized rescue skills,” he said.
Maia also stressed the need for cooperation in incident command, emergency communications, medical response, rescue techniques and disaster management.
He said Timor-Leste, although a small country, remained committed to strengthening its emergency services and working with regional and international partners.
“When a major disaster happens, countries must be ready to help each other,” Maia said.
The ARF workshop provides a platform for participating countries and international organisations to exchange experience, develop practical cooperation and explore new technologies to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response across the region.
TATOLI
