Ambassador João Pereira: Timor Leste wishes to contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of ASEAN.

At the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) on October 26, Timor Leste officially joined and became the 11th ASEAN member country. This milestone was marked by the historic signing ceremony of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor Leste to ASEAN, witnessed by the leaders of 10 other member countries.

Ambassador João Pereira of Timor-Leste to Vietnam gives an interview to the press.

On this occasion, Ambassador João Pereira of Timor Leste to Vietnam gave an interview to a VNA reporter about this momentous event for the Government and people of Timor Leste.
According to the Ambassador, what is the significance of Timor Leste's official accession to ASEAN, especially in the context of the region's efforts to promote economic integration and cooperation for sustainable development?

Timor Leste's official admission to ASEAN after 14 years of relentless effort holds significant meaning for the country and its people. This is not only a "dream come true," but also a strong affirmation of our nation's journey – a journey of unwavering will, determination, and hope to become an integral part of a community bound together by shared values ​​and aspirations. That is precisely what Timor Leste strives for.

We aspire to contribute to the peace , stability, and prosperity of the region. At the same time, Timor Leste will be part of efforts to build resilience, strengthen solidarity, and ensure that no one is left behind. This is our greatest aspiration, and the reason why we want to be a part of this community.

How does Timor Leste intend to contribute to ASEAN's shared priorities, particularly in areas such as inclusive growth, green transition, and regional connectivity?

Timor Leste's accession to ASEAN is a testament to the spirit of our people – a democracy born from hardship, now embracing a new era of cooperation and development within one of the world's most dynamic regions. This is a region of over 600 million people who share a vision of peace, stability, and prosperity, with goals of inclusive growth, green transformation, and regional connectivity between people, governments, and businesses. These are the aspirations and determinations of the people of Timor Leste upon becoming a full member of ASEAN.

Vietnam and Timor Leste have potential for cooperation in many fields. How does the Ambassador assess the prospects for promoting relations between the two countries now that Timor Leste has officially become a full member of ASEAN?

The strong relationship between our two countries has been built since we established our Embassy in Vietnam, and since we gained independence. Vietnam is one of the important pillars of the region, and Timor Leste has always wanted to cooperate with Vietnam to promote cooperation in many fields. I believe that the immediate plan is for Vietnam to soon establish an Embassy in Timor Leste. We hope that, with Timor Leste becoming a member of ASEAN, Vietnam will have a greater presence in our country, promoting even deeper cooperation.

For Timor Leste, Vietnam's strategic location in the region is a significant advantage. In recent decades, Vietnam's economy has developed steadily and rapidly, inspiring Timor Leste to desire closer ties and deeper cooperation with Vietnam. Membership in ASEAN will also open up more opportunities for Timor Leste to learn from and exchange experiences, and to pursue areas of mutual interest and benefit. Timor Leste and Vietnam began cooperating in 2002; to date, one of the most strongly developing areas of bilateral cooperation is telecommunications and media. Over the past period, Vietnam's Telemore Company (Viettel Telemore) has made a significant contribution to Timor Leste's development, providing its people with the most accessible and convenient telecommunications services.

We will also promote development in other areas, including agriculture, education, science and technology, information technology, and oil and gas. I understand that the Vietnamese Prime Minister has also expressed a desire to cooperate with Timor Leste in oil and gas exploration and mining, thereby boosting investment in other sectors such as agriculture and fisheries. The question is how the two sides can jointly promote cooperation in these areas, especially after Timor Leste becomes a member of ASEAN, in order to build specific cooperation agreements and achieve more practical and effective results in the future.

Thank you very much, Ambassador João Pereira!

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/dai-su-joao-pereira-timor-leste-mong-muan-dong-gop-vao-hoa-binh-on-dinh-va-thinh-vuong-cua-asean-20251028194843021.htm