Timor-Leste Welcomes the Chairman’s Statement of the 36th ASEAN Summit

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation

Eighth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Timor-Leste Welcomes the Chairman’s Statement of the 36th ASEAN Summit

Timor-Leste, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, congratulates ASEAN and Vietnam as 2020 Chair, on the successful completion of the 36th ASEAN Summit on 26 June 2020.

We recognise that ASEAN’s coordination and leadership on responses to the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly enhanced our region’s resilience during this time, and this underscores the importance of cross-border cooperation as we rebuild in the period ahead.

Recognition of Positive Momentum Towards ASEAN Accession

Timor-Leste welcomes ASEAN’s clear recognition of the positive momentum towards our accession to ASEAN, as set out in the Chair’s Statement. We are also grateful for the strong expressions of support from ASEAN member states on accession, which were made at the Summit.

As confirmed in the Chair's Statement, Timor-Leste looks forward to convening the two remaining Fact-Finding Missions on the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. The completion of these missions in 2020 will allow ASEAN to finalise its comprehensive assessment of technical readiness, and pave the way for accession in the near term.

The Government of Timor-Leste remains strongly committed to achieving a smooth accession process, and will continue to enhance coordination with ASEAN, to build on the great strides towards technical preparedness. ENDS

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