Minister Agio Pereira's Interview with the Japanese Newspaper The Mainichi in Preview of Timor-Leste's Official Accession to ASEAN
On October 23, 2025, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Agio Pereira gave an interview to the Japanese newspaper The Mainichi, one of Japan's three main daily newspapers. The report is scheduled for publication on October 26, the date on which Timor-Leste's full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be formalized. 
The interview is part of a series of conversations with various Timorese personalities and aims to present to the Japanese public national perspectives on the significance of Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN and the opportunities that represents for the country.
During the conversation, Minister Agio Pereira highlighted the importance of Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN as a natural step for the country to fully integrate into a regional bloc to which it naturally belongs, stressing that this integration will allow for strengthening cooperation and boosting economic development by integrating Timor-Leste into a broader market that is favorable to commercial and industrial growth. 
He also addressed current issues such as the Greater Sunrise project, the importance of political and social stability, and the role of national institutions in consolidating public trust.
The report will be published in The Mainichi on October 26, coinciding with the official ceremony of Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN, which will take place on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit to be held in Malaysia.
