On April 23rd, 2026, members of the Government of Timor-Leste responsible for culture and information met in Dili to present the framework and objectives of the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (ASEAN-COCI), coordinate national activities, and prepare for Timor-Leste’s role as ASEAN Chair in 2029 in this area.
The meeting was led by Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs, Mariano Assanami Sabino, in his capacity as the high-level national representative for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) pillar. It was attended by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, as the high-level national representative to the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) mechanism; the Secretary of State for Art and Culture, Jorge Soares Cristóvão; and the Secretary of State for Media, Expedito Dias Ximenes. Technical teams from relevant government departments also participated. 
During the meeting, the national and regional strategic frameworks were presented, including the alignment of Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan with ASEAN’s vision, as well as the role of the culture and information sectors in promoting regional identity, cooperation, and content circulation.
The participants reviewed the operations of the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (ASEAN-COCI), which falls under the ASCC pillar and was established to promote regional cooperation in these areas, and discussed its structure and national implementation.
The meeting also focused on identifying priority initiatives and actions to be undertaken in preparation for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029, with a view to strengthening national participation in regional activities and promoting culture and the media as tools for cooperation and integration.
The meeting strengthened inter-agency coordination in these areas and established guidelines for the national committee’s operations and Timor-Leste’s participation in ASEAN-COCI.