KUALA LUMPUR, October 26 — Timor-Leste was formally admitted today as the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), marking the bloc’s first expansion in 25 years.
The milestone was sealed with the signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN during the 47th ASEAN Summit’s opening ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, attended by regional leaders including Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Timor-Leste’s entry signifies the strengthening of ASEAN’s unity and shared regional vision. Gusmão, in his remarks, hailed the moment as historic, saying it represents his nation’s journey from a young democracy to a partner in one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
Timor-Leste, which gained independence in 2002 and applied for ASEAN membership in 2011, now joins the bloc as its youngest member nation.
