By Chloe Marie A Hufana, reporter
KUALA LUMPUR – Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday welcomed Timor-Leste's formal entry into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), calling it a “historic milestone” that strengthens the region's unity and pursuit of shared prosperity.
“Today marks a historic milestone for Southeast Asia as we officially welcome Timor-Leste into the ASEAN family,” Mr Marcos said in a statement after the inauguration of the 47th ASEAN.th At the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur and afterwards he signed the official declaration of Dili's inclusion in the grouping.
Timor-Leste is in 11th placeth Member of ASEAN. Its inclusion has opened up a market of more than 670 million people. Group host Malaysia will hand over the reins to the Philippines on Tuesday. The chairmanship of ASEAN is held in alphabetical order with a one-year term.
The bloc's members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste.
The regional bloc is holding its annual meeting in the Malaysian capital, tackling topics such as geopolitics, geo-economics, money laundering and climate change.
The summit was attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and US President Donald J. Notable world leaders like Trump also participated.
Josué Rafael J., ASEAN Studies lecturer at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde in Manila. Timor-Leste's long-delayed accession to ASEAN is a major milestone that underlines the bloc's unity and growing role in strengthening South-South cooperation amid global uncertainties, Cortez said.
While some fear the move could weaken cohesion, he argued it could promote economic diversification by expanding ASEAN's trade in petroleum and liquefied natural gas (LNG) – Timor-Leste's major exports – and increase the bloc's leverage in alleviating trade shocks affecting developing economies.
“Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN is undoubtedly a much-awaited milestone for the history of the bloc as it took a decade to become a full member,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.
“With petroleum and oil-related sanctions being used as geo-economic weapons today, ASEAN can collectively use its petroleum reserves as an alternative market from which other countries can import their oil and LNG,” he said.
marcos bilateral talks
Also on Sunday, Mr. Marcos met with the leaders of Cambodia, Thailand, Canada, Japan and the European Union on the sidelines of the summit, reaffirming regional cooperation and shared commitments to stability and development.
During talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Mr. Marcos reaffirmed Manila's support for a peaceful resolution of the Thai-Cambodian border conflict through dialogue and adherence to international law.
Palace press officer Clarissa A. Castro told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center that the president welcomed progress in resolving the dispute, as seen by Mr Trump.
In turn, Mr Hun expressed Cambodia's strong support for the Philippines' ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.
Mr Marcos also met Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and expressed condolences on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.
The two leaders promised to deepen cooperation in tourism, trade and investment, while exploring stronger agricultural exchanges and private sector participation.
In a separate meeting, Mr Marcos and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Joseph Carney highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between their countries.
Mr. Marcos thanked Canada for its continued support for the Philippines and reaffirmed shared commitments to the rules-based international order, citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Ms Castro said the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment and energy, and maintain constructive engagement within the ASEAN framework.
