Timor Leste and the 'golden passport'

More than 10 years after submitting its application to join ASEAN, Timor-Leste’s persistent efforts have paid off. The 47th ASEAN Summit, taking place in October 2025, is expected to mark a milestone in the development history of both sides, when Timor-Leste becomes the 11th member under the “common roof” of ASEAN.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Jose Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste at the ASEAN Future Forum 2025. Vietnam supports Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN, becoming the Association's 11th member, looking towards a future by 2045 with many new goals. (Photo: TT)

In 2011, less than 10 years after gaining independence, Timor-Leste applied to join ASEAN, taking the first steps on a path to deeper integration and joining the mainstream of Southeast Asia.

At that time, a young nation facing the hardships of rebuilding after independence, joining ASEAN became a driving force and a guiding light for Timor-Leste to continue consolidating peace and promoting reforms.

Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta has repeatedly affirmed that joining ASEAN is a top priority, a gateway to opportunities to boost economic growth, strengthen diplomatic relations with countries in the region, and ensure the stable, prosperous, and long-term development of the country. Full membership in ASEAN is considered a "golden passport" for Timor-Leste to participate in regional supply chains and access a vibrant market of over 600 million people.

According to ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Satvinder Singh, from 2015 to 2024, ASEAN's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at an average rate of 5.1% per year – an impressive figure during a period when the global economy was besieged by numerous challenges, especially the Covid-19 pandemic. In the context of the increasingly widespread wave of protectionism shaking the global economy, with its commitment to maintaining free and fair multilateral trade, the Association has become a "safe haven" for its member countries.

Joining ASEAN opens the door for Timor-Leste to participate in ASEAN's vast trade network with major partners such as China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia, and New Zealand. Analysts believe that if Timor-Leste seizes this opportunity, it will be a "golden chance" to boost domestic production, diversify its economy, participate in regional supply chains, export goods to the global market, and promote sustainable growth.

Over nearly 60 years of formation and development, with a spirit of solidarity and a long-term strategic vision, ASEAN has become an effective model of multilateral cooperation, with an increasingly significant influence on the international stage. The Association continues to play a central role in shaping and leading regional processes. Therefore, joining ASEAN provides Timor-Leste with the opportunity to contribute its voice to discussions on a range of pressing geopolitical and economic issues that are crucial in building the future of Southeast Asia.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn emphasized that the admission of Timor-Leste affirms ASEAN's core values, demonstrating the vitality, solidarity, and influence of the Association in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.

Furthermore, with over 70% of its population under 35 years old and a large workforce, Timor-Leste will further strengthen ASEAN's shared future. Joining ASEAN is a sweet achievement for Timor-Leste, marking the beginning of a new chapter in its journey towards comprehensive socio-economic development and deep integration into the region and the world.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/timor-leste-va-tam-ho-chieu-vang-330898.html