ASEAN: Timor-Leste on Sunday officially became the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This marks the bloc’s first expansion in 26 years, following Cambodia’s admission in 1999. The island nation, which first applied for membership in 2011, was formally welcomed as Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao joined the 10 ASEAN leaders to sign the documents confirming its long-awaited entry.
Timor-Leste Joins ASEAN
Speaking at the signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN, PM Gusmao said the milestone also reaffirms ASEAN’s vision of a truly united family of nations bound by shared values, common aspirations and a collective destiny. “Today, history is made. Timor-Leste has been admitted as the 11th Member State of ASEAN. For the people of Timor-Leste, this is not only a dream realised, but a powerful affirmation of our journey – one marked by resilience, determination, and hope,” Gusmao stated.
What Is ASEAN? Who Are the Other 10 Members
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand. The forum was formed with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The bloc, initially comprising five countries, was later joined by Brunei Darussalam on 7 January 1984, followed by Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, taking the total to ten Member States. Timor-Leste is the newest addition, and now ASEAN has 11 member states.
The five Foreign Ministers who signed the ASEAN declaration were: Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso R. Ramos of the Philippines, Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratnam of Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand. All of them are collectively regarded as the founding fathers of one of the most successful inter-governmental organisations in the developing world today.
The ASEAN Charter provides a solid legal and institutional framework, serving as the foundation for the realisation of the ASEAN Community. It also lays down ASEAN norms, rules and values, targets for ASEAN and presents accountability and compliance. The Charter entered into force on 15 December 2008 in the presence of ASEAN Foreign Ministers at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.
What is ASEAN Summit?
The ASEAN Summit is the highest policy-making body in ASEAN comprising the Head of States or Government of ASEAN Member States. The Summit is held twice annually and the dates are determined by the Chair of the ASEAN Summit in consultation with other ASEAN Member States. The summit is hosted by the ASEAN Member State holding the ASEAN Chairmanship. Notably, the first ASEAN Summit was held in Bali, Indonesia on 23-24 February 1976. The organisation discusses economic, political, security, and socio-cultural development of Southeast Asian countries. It also focuses on various problems and global issues, strengthening co-operation, and making decisions.
47th ASEAN Summit
Malaysia, as the Chair of ASEAN, is hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit from October 26 to 28. The Summits include the ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Plus One Summits with seven Dialogue Partners, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States, as well as the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN-United Nations Summit, and the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit to mark 50 years of dialogue relations.
