Kula Lumpur, Malaysia (www.mediaonetimor.co) – Your Majesty, Your Excellency, Chair of ASEAN, Excellencies, ASEAN leaders, Excellency, the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, Excellency, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Excellency, President of the European Union, Excellency, President of Brazil, Excellency, President of Republic of South Africa,
Excellencies, Guests of the Chair, National Parliament members of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste here, Excellency, Secretary-General of ASEAN, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.
Today, history is made.
Timor-Leste has been admitted as the 11th member state of ASEAN. For the people of Timor-Leste, this is not only a dream realized but a powerful affirmation of our journey, one marked by resilience, determination, and hope. For ASEAN, it is the continuation of a vision, a truly united family of nations, bound together by shared values, common aspirations, and collective destiny.
On behalf of the government and people of Timor-Leste, I extend our deepest gratitude to all ASEAN Member States, to the ASEAN Chair, the ASEAN Secretariat, and our dialogue partners. Your trust, encouragement, and unwavering solidarity have made this historic day possible.
Our path to membership has been long and purposeful. Since we applied in 2011, we have prepared our institutions, reformed our policies, and strengthened our readiness, guided by the wisdom, support, and patience of ASEAN and its partners. Our accession is a testament to the spirit of our people, a young democracy, born from struggle, now embracing a new era of collaboration and growth within one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
Today, ASEAN reaffirms its vitality and its inclusivity. Timor-Leste joins with humility and with pride, fully embracing the core values of ASEAN: mutual respect, peaceful cooperation, unity in diversity, and regional solidarity. We see ASEAN membership as both a natural affiliation, rooted in our culture and geography, and a strategic imperative for our nation’s future.
Timor-Leste enters ASEAN with full commitment to its charter, ready to be a constructive, peaceful, and devoted member. We pledge to work with all member states to keep our region peaceful, open, and prosperous, and to be part of efforts to build resilience, deepen unity, and ensure that no one is left behind.
For Timor-Leste, this new beginning brings immense opportunities in trade, investment, education, and the digital economy. We are ready to learn, to innovate, and to uphold good governance, strengthening our institutions as we work together toward sustainable development.
This is not the end of a journey. This is the beginning of an inspiring new chapter. Together, we will advance the ASEAN Community Vision 2045: a peaceful, prosperous, resilient, and people-centered ASEAN, with Timor-Leste as an active contributor.
On this day of pride and celebration, I speak not only as the Prime Minister on behalf of the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste and all Timorese people, but now, as a fellow member of the ASEAN family.
Thank you very, very much. (Asesu Youtube-https://www.youtube.com/@Media1Timor/Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/Media1Timor/Iha moos Kursu Jornalizmu no Lian Inglesh)
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