PETALING JAYA: Asean’s future must include Timor-Leste to enhance the regional bloc’s economic potential and help it realise its long-term vision, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today.
Speaking at the end of the Asean summit and related meetings in Vientiane, Laos, Anwar said Timor-Leste would be a key contributor to the 10-member group.
Timor-Leste is awaiting a consensus among Asean members to be accepted as a full member after Asean leaders agreed in principle in 2022 on its membership.
At the end of the Asean summit, Laos officially handed over the Asean chairmanship to Malaysia.
Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to upholding Asean’s core values and said the bloc will remain a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region under Malaysia’s chairmanship.