Secretary Normal Kim Jae-shin of the ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) visited Dili, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, from 12 to fifteen March 2026, following the nation’s accession because the eleventh Member State of ASEAN in October final yr. In the course of the go to, Secretary Normal Kim mentioned Timor-Leste’s procedures for becoming a member of the AKC, in addition to methods to additional strengthen ASEAN-Korea cooperation.
He paid a courtesy name on H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, the Prime Minister, and held conferences with high-level officers of Timor-Leste, together with H.E. Jesuina Ferreira Gomes, Vice Minister of Overseas Affairs, H.E. Milena Rangel, the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, and H.E. Jorge Soares Cristóvão, Secretary of
State for Artwork and Tradition.
Secretary Normal Kim famous that the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN is a traditionally important improvement that may function an necessary momentum for the long run improvement of ASEAN and for the additional strengthening of ASEAN-Korea relations. He additionally expressed his expectation for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste’s future function and contribution inside ASEAN.
Secretary Normal Kim defined that the AKC carries out greater than 30 programmes yearly in such areas as commerce and funding, tradition and tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, with a view to advancing ASEAN-Korea relations. As well as, the AKC organized a separate briefing session for round 60 Timorese officers associated to ASEAN affairs, throughout which it launched the AKC’s construction and actions in addition to its main programmes for 2026.
Timor-Leste officers expressed excessive expectations for the AKC’s function in selling ASEAN-Korea relations. They conveyed their hope for the AKC’s assist in areas reminiscent of selling commerce and funding via assist for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), in addition to capacity-building initiatives via coaching programmes for presidency officers and scholarship alternatives.
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste is a younger island nation that formally gained independence from Indonesia in Might 2002, with a inhabitants of roughly 1.44 million and a land space of 14,954 sq. kilometers. Its economic system is basically primarily based on petroleum and pure gasoline sources, and with a per capita GDP of round USD 5,000, the nation is considered having robust progress potential following its accession to ASEAN.
The Republic of Korea (ROK) and Timor-Leste established diplomatic relations in Might 2002. From 1999 to 2003, the ROK additionally contributed to peace and stability in Timor-Leste by dispatching roughly 3,000 personnel as a part of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, often called the Sangnoksu Unit, or the “Blue Angels,” over 4 years.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
