• In Sept 2019, TL welcomed the ASEAN Fact Finding Mission to Timor-Leste as a part of the assessment of Timor-Leste’s readiness to become a member of ASEAN, Virtual Fact-Finding Mission on ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) conducted in September 2020, and Virtual Fact-Finding Mission on ASEAN Economic (AEC) Pillar conducted in December, 2020.
  • In November, 2019, Chairman’s Statement of the 35th ASEAN Summit Bangkok/Nonthaburi, noted the successful convening of the APSC Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) to Timor-Leste from 3-5 September 2019, and encouraged the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Pillar to expeditiously conduct their respective FFMs. The Statement also noted Timor-Leste’s strong political will to become a member of ASEAN and reaffirmed AMS commitment to continue supporting Timor-Leste’s development through capacity building assistance, at the bilateral and regional levels). Source:https://www.asean2019.go.th/wpcontent/uploads/2019/11/ca06bbf8b350067e0d97f4313b59476c.pdf
  • In June 2020, Chairman’s Statement Of the 36th ASEAN Summit-Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN, Viet Nam. (30. AMS looked forward to the convening of the Fact-Finding Missions (FFM) to Timor-Leste by the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Pillars when

circumstances allow, after which a comprehensive assessment of Timor-Leste’s application for ASEAN membership should be developed at the soonest. AMS reiterated the importance for all ASEAN Community Pillars to identify areas that need to be further improved and explore ways to provide capacity building assistance to Timor-Leste, including the encouragement of their participation in non-policy making activities in ASEAN. Source:https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Chairman-Statement-of-the 36th-ASEAN-Summit-FINAL.pdf

  • In November, 2020, Chairman’s Statement of The 37th ASEAN Summit-Ha Noi, Cohesive And Responsive. (Timor-Leste’s Application for ASEAN Membership: 83. AMS were encouraged to note that despite the pandemic, progress continued to be made in the process of ASEAN’s consideration on Timor-Leste’s application for ASEAN Membership through the finalization of the Assessment Report of the APSC Fact-Finding Missions (FFM) to Timor-Leste as well as the convening of virtual consultations between the ASCC Pillar with Timor-Leste. AMS looked forward to the conduct of the FFMs to Timor-Leste by the AEC and ASCC Pillars when circumstances allow, after which a comprehensive assessment on Timor-Leste’s application for ASEAN membership would be undertaken. AMS also noted the progress made with regard to the deliberations on the provision of capacity building assistance to Timor-Leste, as well as their participation in non-policy making meetings/activities of ASEAN. Source:https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/43-Chairmans-Statement-of-37th-ASEAN-Summit-FINAL.pdf
  • In October, 2021, via videoconference- Chairman’s Statement Of the 38th And 39th ASEAN Summits-Brunei Darussalam. (Timor-Leste’s Application for ASEAN Membership: 96. AMS noted the outcomes of the Virtual Meeting between the Senior Economic Official’s Meeting (SEOM) and Timor-Leste held on 7-9 December 2020 and the finalization of the In-depth Assessment on the Implications of Timor-Leste’s Accession to ASEAN’s Economic Agreements in July 2021. AMS noted the progress made in preparing for the AEC and ASCC Fact-Finding Missions (FFMs) to Timor-Leste. AMS looked forward to the convening of the FFMs, when circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic allow, and to the outcomes of the FFMs, after which a comprehensive assessment of Timor-Leste’s application for ASEAN membership would be developed. In line with the APSC FFM, AMS reaffirmed their commitment to continue exploring ways to provide capacity building assistance to Timor-Leste,

 especially through participation in non-policy making activities in ASEAN. In this regard, AMS noted the approval by the 29th ACC Meeting of the Guidelines for Timor-Leste’s Participation in ASEAN Activities for Capacity-Building Purposes. AMS further noted the importance of developing a timeline and roadmap to guide ASEAN in furthering the consideration of Timor-Leste’s application for ASEAN Membership, once the physical AEC and ASCC FFMs to Timor-Leste have been completed.  Source: https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FINAL-Chairmans-Statement-of-the-38th-and-39th-ASEAN-Summits-26-Oct....pdf

  • In 2021, Timor-Leste also received a 132 non-policy making activities for the ASCC pillar for Timor-Leste to participate.