President of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, delivered a policy speech at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta on August 5, 2025, ahead of his country's official designation as the 11th member of ASEAN.
The speech, titled "Democracy, Development, and Future of ASEAN," marks a pivotal moment in Timor-Leste's journey toward full ASEAN membership.
The event was organized through a collaboration between Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia (PTRI) to ASEAN, and the ASEAN Secretariat. The speech was opened by Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir, who reiterated Indonesia's full support for Timor-Leste's aspirations to become a full ASEAN member.
"For Indonesia, Timor-Leste is not just a neighbor, but a vital partner for growth and development in the region," Arrmanatha said as quoted in a statement on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
ASEAN Secretary-General, Kao Kim Hourn, also expressed his appreciation for the event and reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to supporting Timor-Leste in its accession process.
In his speech, President Ramos-Horta expressed gratitude for the warm reception in Jakarta, emphasizing that peace and strong relations with Indonesia have been foundational to Timor-Leste’s development. After 23 years of independence, Timor-Leste remains in a state of peace, political stability, and boasts a growing economy with low external debt.
"Timor-Leste deeply appreciates Indonesia's active role in supporting our full ASEAN membership through capacity-building programs and technical cooperation," President Horta said.
He also highlighted ASEAN’s potential role as a mechanism for conflict prevention in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure regional stability.
This policy speech was part of President Ramos-Horta’s visit to Indonesia, which began with an annual lecture at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta on July 31, 2025, where he served as a keynote speaker.
Already have an account? Sign In
-
Start reading
Freemium
-
Monthly Subscription
20% OFF$29.75
$37.19/MonthCancel anytime
This offer is open to all new subscribers!
Subscribe now -
Yearly Subscription
33% OFF$228.13
$340.5/YearCancel anytime
This offer is open to all new subscribers!
Subscribe now
Set up email notifications for these topics
