Timor-Leste Hopes to Join ASEAN When Indonesia Chairs in 2023 – The Diplomat

ASEAN Beat | Diplomacy | Southeast Asia

Timor-Leste’s President Jose Ramos-Horta in a gathering together with his Indonesian counterpart on Tuesday mentioned he hoped Asia’s youngest nation may be a part of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) subsequent yr.

In a joint information convention with Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Ramos-Horta mentioned that his authorities had fulfilled all necessities to be the most recent member of the bloc, and his nation anticipated Widodo would maximize his position because the chair of ASEAN subsequent yr to speed up the acceptance of Timor-Leste because the eleventh member of the regional grouping.

“I’m very grateful that Indonesia stays very dedicated to Timor Leste’s membership in ASEAN,” Ramos-Horta mentioned after assembly with Jokowi. “We hope to affix ASEAN throughout Indonesia’s presidency to be extremely symbolic.”

Jokowi might be seen nodding his head in settlement whereas Ramos-Horta expressed his hope, however he didn’t make any remark about Timor-Leste’s request to affix ASEAN throughout the convention.

Ramos-Horta, a former independence fighter and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was sworn in as president of Timor-Leste on Could 20 because the nation marked its twentieth anniversary of independence from Indonesia, which invaded the previous Portuguese colony in 1975.

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He made his first bilateral go to to Indonesia — Southeast Asia’s largest economic system and a conventional first cease for brand new Timorese leaders. He was hosted by Jokowi at an official ceremony Tuesday within the presidential palace in Bogor.

The 2 leaders on Tuesday agreed to extend commerce and transportation cooperation, and Jokowi pledged to strengthen his administration position to take part in improvement in Timor-Leste, together with in infrastructure, banking, telecommunications in addition to non-oil and gasoline sector.

Throughout his weeklong go to to Indonesia, Ramos-Horta is scheduled to satisfy with ASEAN Secretary-Common Lim Jock Hoi to debate regional points and his nation’s request for ASEAN membership. He additionally plans to satisfy Indonesia’s former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and provides public lectures at three universities.

Timor-Leste formally utilized for full membership of ASEAN in 2011, however ASEAN has but to reply as a result of nation’s small economic system and comparatively excessive poverty ranges. Members like a lot wealthier Singapore feared Timor-Leste could be a burden and slowed its bid to appreciate the ASEAN Financial Group.

The U.N. estimates practically half of Timor-Leste’s inhabitants lives beneath the intense poverty line of $1.90 a day, and for each 1,000 infants born within the nation, 42 die earlier than their fifth birthday due to malnutrition.

The previous Portuguese colony was occupied by Indonesia for a quarter-century and gained independence after a U.N.-sponsored referendum in 1999. Indonesia’s army responded with scorched-earth assaults that devastated Timor-Leste’s half of the island of Timor.

The transition to democracy has been rocky, with leaders battling huge poverty, unemployment and corruption. Its economic system is reliant on dwindling offshore oil revenues.