Ambassador João Pereira: Timor Leste wishes to contribute to ASEAN's peace, stability and prosperity

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.

Timor-Leste Ambassador to Vietnam João Pereira answers questions from the press.

On this occasion, Timor Leste Ambassador to Vietnam João Pereira gave an interview to VNA reporters about this important event of 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 promoting economic integration and cooperation for sustainable development?

Timor Leste’s official admission to ASEAN after 14 years of tireless efforts is of great significance to the country and people of Timor Leste. This is not only a “dream come true” but also a strong affirmation of our country’s journey – a journey of resilience, determination and hope to become an integral part of a community united by common values ​​and aspirations. That is what Timor Leste is aiming for.

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

How does Timor Leste intend to contribute to ASEAN's common 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 welcoming the milestone of a new era of cooperation and development within one of the world’s most dynamic regions. It is a region of more than 600 million people who share a vision of peace, stability and prosperity with the goals of inclusive growth, green transformation and regional connectivity between people and people, Government and Government and business and business. These are the aspirations and determination of the people of Timor Leste after becoming an official 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 when Timor Leste officially becomes an official member of ASEAN?

The strong relationship between our two countries has been built since we established our Embassy in Vietnam, and since our 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 think 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 deeper and broader cooperation.

For Timor Leste, Vietnam's strategic position in the region is an important advantage. In recent decades, Vietnam's economy has grown steadily and rapidly, which has inspired Timor Leste to establish a closer relationship and deeper cooperation with Vietnam. Becoming a member of ASEAN will also open up more opportunities for Timor Leste to learn, exchange experiences, and pursue areas of cooperation that both countries are interested in and have common interests. Timor Leste and Vietnam began cooperation in 2002; to date, one of the most strongly developed areas of bilateral cooperation is telecommunications and media. In recent times, Vietnam's Telemore Company (Viettel Telemore) has contributed significantly to the development of Timor Leste, providing people with the most accessible and convenient telecommunications services.

We will also promote development in other areas, such as agriculture, education, science and technology, information technology, oil and gas... I see that the Prime Minister of Vietnam has also expressed his desire to cooperate with Timor Leste in the field of oil and gas exploration and mining, thereby promoting investment in other areas such as agriculture and fisheries. The question is how the two sides can work together to promote these areas of cooperation, especially after Timor Leste becomes a member of ASEAN, in order to build specific cooperation agreements, thereby achieving more practical and effective results in the coming time.

Thank you very much Ambassador João Pereira!

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