Timor Leste joins the ASEAN "common roof": Expectations and challenges

Illustrative photo. (Source: World and Vietnam Newspaper)

The moment the Timor Leste flag was raised alongside the flags of other countries during the ceremony to admit Timor Leste to ASEAN marked a historic milestone for this Southeast Asian country. Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao could not contain his emotions, because the journey of more than 10 years of persistently promoting the country's diplomatic efforts had finally borne "sweet fruit". Mr. Xanana Gusmao shared that for the people of Timor Leste, this was not only a dream come true, but also an affirmation of a journey built on resilience, determination and hope.

Since gaining independence in 2002, Timor Leste has made ASEAN membership one of its top foreign policy priorities, demonstrating its desire for integration. The young Southeast Asian nation officially applied for ASEAN membership in 2011. The journey to completing the institutional and legal requirements for Timor Leste to join the association has not been easy.

One of the main reasons is that the country's economy is still far behind other countries in the region. Challenges in infrastructure such as airports, information technology infrastructure, etc. are also limitations in organizing regional meetings and conferences.

However, with tireless efforts to complete the bloc's requirements, in 2022, Timor Leste was granted observer status, which allows it to participate in all ASEAN meetings. Three years later, in 2025, Timor Leste officially became a member of the "common house" of ASEAN.

The benefits of Timor Leste joining ASEAN are obvious. As a part of ASEAN, Timor Leste has the opportunity to promote its views and stances in the international arena, thereby enhancing its national position and voice. The country also has the opportunity to promote exchanges with other ASEAN countries, sharing experiences in national development and human resource development.

In particular, economically, joining ASEAN will help the country integrate more deeply into the regional economy, aiming to participate in trade agreements between ASEAN and partners such as China, South Korea, etc., while also facilitating the development of Timor Leste's tourism industry.

As for ASEAN, admitting Timor Leste not only contributes to expanding the Association's cooperation space but also affirms the vitality, prestige and maturity of ASEAN. According to Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, for ASEAN, this is a continuation of the vision: a family of nations truly united, bound by common values and aspirations. Admitting Timor Leste also reflects the spirit of solidarity, inclusiveness, and leaving no one behind that ASEAN is upholding.

To effectively take advantage of development opportunities after joining ASEAN, Timor Leste needs to continue to make efforts to overcome many challenges. According to the World Bank (WB) report in 2025, only 30.5% of Timor Leste's population will participate in the labor market, significantly lower than other countries in the region.

Experts are also concerned that ASEAN “membership fees” such as contributions to common activities and the organization of conferences of the association will be a burden on the economy of Timor Leste. ASEAN countries emphasize that they will actively support Timor Leste in training human resources, investing in infrastructure, etc. so that this country can quickly integrate into the region.

Being admitted to ASEAN is the beginning of a new journey with many opportunities and challenges ahead for Timor Leste. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a report last June stating that Timor Leste has achieved remarkable achievements since gaining independence in 2002, such as maintaining political stability, achieving economic growth and the ability to control inflation "desirable" for a country emerging from conflict. This is the foundation for the international community to believe in Timor Leste's new development steps in the coming period.

Updated October 31, 2025

Source: https://laichau.gov.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/chuyen-de/tin-trong-nuoc/timor-leste-gia-nhap-mai-nha-chung-asean-ky-vong-va-thach-thuc.html