The Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Kao Kim Hourn, paid an official visit to Timor-Leste to participate in the celebrations marking the 24th anniversary of the Restoration of Independence and to hold meetings with the Heads of State and Government regarding the country’s full integration into ASEAN. 
The visit marked Kao Kim Hourn’s second official trip to Timor-Leste and his first since the country formally joined ASEAN as the regional organisation’s 11th member state in October 2025.
During the visit, Kao Kim Hourn met the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta; the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. The meetings focused on Timor-Leste’s integration into ASEAN, preparations for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN presidency in 2029, and the strengthening of regional cooperation.
At the meeting with the Prime Minister at the Government Palace, the ASEAN Secretary-General reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s development and its full integration into regional structures. The Head of Government highlighted the opportunities for cooperation that ASEAN can offer, particularly in the areas of the economy, investment, trade, and regional connectivity.
Kao Kim Hourn also congratulated the Prime Minister on his leadership and expressed confidence in Timor-Leste’s preparations to assume ASEAN’s rotating chairmanship in 2029. The Secretary-General further noted that Timor-Leste is already actively participating in regional ASEAN discussions, including at the organisation’s recent 48th Summit.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, described the visit as historic, noting it occurred after Timor-Leste’s full accession to ASEAN. During the meeting with the Secretary-General, they discussed national contributions to the three pillars of the ASEAN Community (Political-Security Community, Economic Community, and Socio-Cultural Community), as well as institutional and infrastructure preparations for Timor-Leste’s 2029 chairmanship of the organisation.
The ASEAN Secretary-General reaffirmed the ASEAN Secretariat’s ongoing support for Timor-Leste, including technical assistance, institutional capacity-building, and regional coordination.
On May 20th, Kao Kim Hourn participated in the celebrations in Dili marking the 24th anniversary of Timor-Leste’s Restoration of Independence. The ASEAN Secretary-General’s presence at the celebrations signalled recognition of Timor-Leste’s journey towards peace, stability, development, and state-building, as well as its growing role within ASEAN as the organisation’s newest member state.
During the visit, the ASEAN Secretary-General also attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Timor-Leste International Convention Centre in Dili, which was presided over by Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão. On that occasion, Kao Kim Hourn congratulated Timor-Leste on this milestone, noting that the new infrastructure will help strengthen the country’s capacity to participate in and host regional cooperation initiatives within the ASEAN framework.
Vice-Prime Ministers Francisco Kalbuadi Lay and Mariano Assanami Sabino, Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Rangel, and Vice Minister of Trade and Industry Augusto Júnior Trindade also attended the official meetings.