Geographically, Timor-Leste located in at the crossroads of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands region. Besides geographic location, strong cultural exchange with ASEAN members, and regional politics, stationing and commit Timor-Leste to be a full part of the Southeast ASEAN Bloc. Timor-Leste believes by the accession to the ASEAN will accelerate the economic growth, opportunity to improve the productive sectors, strengthen the private sector, social progress, and cultural development in the region expand commercial activities, and enhance its skilled labor force being forced to fend for itself in ASEAN’s competitive market, and promote regional peace and stability.
ASEAN membership is a national and strategic priority for Timor-Leste. The initiative to accede to the ASEAN precedes Timor-Leste’s formal independence. It is the desire of both our political leaders and the people. We assess that regional integration is in the primary national interest, and has become a guiding principle of our foreign policy.
We see benefits to our national economy and stability to the greater economy of ASEAN Member States (AMS) and to the enhancement of peace and stability in the ASEAN region. The Southeast Asian region is one of the most economically dynamic regions in the world, with ASEAN at its center. Being an active contributor to the dynamism of a region with over 660 million people, and a GDP over US$3 trillion, would be a strong catalyst for growth among Timorese businesses and entrepreneurs.
The free trade agreements that ASEAN has concluded and continues to negotiate have placed ASEAN at the core of regional economic activity. Enhanced access to ASEAN and regional markets (such as Japan, Korea, China, India, Australia & New Zealand) will open new opportunities for Timorese products and services and accelerate the process of product and service diversification in the Timorese economy. The building of ASEAN regional institutions and agreements – from mutual recognition in various fields, to coordination on disaster management to the protection of rights for vulnerable groups offer Timor-Leste a valuable platform for engagement in the region’s common challenges.
On the strategic front, Timor-Leste is a natural link between Southeast Asia and the Pacific/Oceania region. This common geography with ASEAN presents common trans-boundary and security challenges especially with regard to political-security and socio-cultural issues. Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN will also promote peace and security in the region. Timor-Leste will have an important role to play to contribute and strengthen its cooperation to regional security and connectivity among its people. Moreover, Timor-Leste’s leadership role among the g7+ grouping of conflict-affected countries can further build ASEAN’s presence at important policy forums. Socio-culturally, Timor-Leste will join in creating an ASEAN that is people-centered and socially responsible by investing heavily on its people’s education, training, science and technology development, job generation, and social protection. People-oriented, environmentally friendly and geared towards the promotion of sustainable development to face new and emerging challenges in ASEAN. Timor-Leste envision a community where people enjoy the benefits of being part of ASEAN.