Government of Timor-Leste

On February 24^th, 2026, the Government, through the Office of the Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, held the First National Workshop on the Interministerial Coordination Mechanism of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council (ASCC) at the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão Auditorium, Ministry of Finance, in Dili. 

The initiative aimed to clarify the working mechanisms and coordination responsibilities within the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council, including the roles of ASCC Ministers, Senior Officials (SOM), sectoral bodies, and national coordination structures, with particular emphasis on implementing the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Strategic Plan within the framework of ASEAN Vision 2045.

At the opening session, Vice Prime Minister Mariano Assanami Sabino, in his capacity as Timor-Leste's High Representative to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council, emphasised the need to strengthen inter-ministerial coordination and ensure integrated national-level coordination to align national policies and programmes with the priorities defined in the ASEAN socio-cultural pillar.

The Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel, presented an overview of ASEAN and its socio-cultural pillar, including the ASCC's institutional structure, its sectoral bodies, existing coordination mechanisms, and the roles of Senior Officials and national liaison arrangements.

During the workshop, the ministerial lines of this sector outlined Timor-Leste's current practices regarding participation in ASCC meetings and working groups, identifying existing focal points, coordination challenges, and areas requiring institutional adjustments.

The programme also included a presentation of the proposed institutional arrangement for Timor-Leste's Senior Officials Committee for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (SOCA), clarifying its framework, mandate, and coordination with sectoral SOMs and relevant ministries. The proposal was discussed among the participating ministries, and consensus was reached on the coordination model to be adopted.

The workshop brought together representatives from social ministries, experts on ASEAN matters, and civil society and academic representatives, with a view to strengthening national coordination and effectively fulfilling Timor-Leste's commitments in the regional integration process.

The day before, the inaugural meeting of the National Council for the Organisation of the ASEAN Chairmanship (CNOP-ASEAN) was also held as part of preparations for Timor-Leste's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029.

Timor-Leste remains committed to actively contributing to building a resilient, inclusive, and people-centred ASEAN Community.