Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today joined other ASEAN Leaders, Foreign Ministers and invited guests, in a Commemorative Reception in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to celebrate Timor-Leste’s formal admission as the 11th ASEAN Member State.
Timor-Leste officially applied for ASEAN membership in 2011 and has since taken steady steps toward joining the ASEAN family. From being granted Observer status in 2022 to implementing the Roadmap for its full membership since 2023, Timor-Leste’s journey reflects years of close engagement with ASEAN and its partners. The reception was a moment to celebrate this milestone, and to look ahead to Timor-Leste’s next phase of integration in ASEAN.





