Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (MCAE), and Minister of Tourism and Environment (MTA), Francisco Kolbuadi Lay, accompanied Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister (PM), Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, to participate in the 46th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was officially opened and led by Malaysia’s Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim.

This summit was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC), Bendito Freitas; Deputy Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Maria da Costa Rangel; Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry (D-MCI), Augusto Junior Trinidade; and Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (D-MPA), Aderito Hugo.

The summit was attended by the 10 ASEAN member countries:

Brunei Darussalam

Cambodia

Indonesia

Laos

Malaysia

Myanmar

Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Vietnam

Besides this, Timor-Leste plans to join as the 11th member of ASEAN in 2025, after nearly completing the accession process. This was reported by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister and MCAE