Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao declared that ASEAN membership marks "the beginning of an inspiring new chapter" for his nation during the signing ceremony of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste into ASEAN at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, October 26, 2025, marking the bloc's first expansion since Cambodia joined in 1999.
Gusmao told fellow ASEAN leaders that "today, history is made" and emphasized that for the people of Timor-Leste, membership represents not only a dream realized but a powerful affirmation of their journey marked by resilience, determination, and hope, while for ASEAN it continues the vision of a truly united family of nations bound by shared values, common aspirations, and collective destiny.
The Prime Minister pledged Timor-Leste would join with humility and pride, entering ASEAN with full commitment to its charter as a constructive, peaceful, and devoted member ready to work toward keeping the region peaceful, open, and prosperous while ensuring no one is left behind, expressing deepest gratitude to all ASEAN member states, chairs, secretaries, and dialogue partners.
Gusmao highlighted that membership brings immense opportunities in trade, investment, education, and the digital economy, with Timor-Leste ready to learn, innovate, uphold good governance, and strengthen institutions for sustainable development, gaining access to an economic community of 680 million people with a USD 3.8 trillion economy despite the nation's current GDP of around USD 2 billion.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, holding the bloc's rotating chairmanship, congratulated Timor-Leste and said its accession "completes the ASEAN family," affirming shared destiny and deep regional kinship, with President José Ramos-Horta and independence hero Gusmao leading efforts to tackle high unemployment, malnutrition, and poverty affecting the nation of 1.4 million people.
