became ASEAN\u2019s 11th member state<\/span><\/a> on Oct 26, 2025, after it had first applied for membership to the regional grouping in 2011 and was granted observer status in 2022.<\/p>\n\u201cOur next phase is to help Timor-Leste not just benefit but also contribute as an ASEAN member, and they intend to do so because they have aspirations to chair ASEAN in 2029,\u201d said PM Wong.<\/p>\n
He was responding to a question on what else Singapore could do to help Timor-Leste integrate and participate more effectively in the bloc\u2019s work, and how it could also help with Timor-Leste\u2019s chairmanship in the future.<\/p>\n
As part of the expanded package, Singapore will organise tailored workshops on the duties of the ASEAN chairmanship for officials in Dili and welcome attachments by Timorese officials to Singapore\u2019s chairmanship teams when it takes on the role in 2027.<\/p>\n
Said PM Wong: \u201cAll of us who have gone through ASEAN chairmanships know it is a massive and significant responsibility and undertaking. That is why we are again leaning forward to say we will support them, we support their aspirations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his visit to Timor-Leste, which was the first-ever for a Singapore prime minister, PM Wong said that he felt a sense of confidence and optimism from the Timorese officials about their future, especially as the country enters a new phase with its membership in ASEAN.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an ongoing journey for them. It\u2019s an important phase of their development, and Singapore hopes to play a part in this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
When asked about the timing of his visit, PM Wong noted the two countries\u2019 longstanding relationship, with Singapore being among the first countries to commit personnel for peacekeeping operations back in 1999. Timor-Leste became independent in 2002.<\/p>\n
He said his visit comes at a \u201cnatural point\u201d with Timor-Leste having become a full member of ASEAN. Said PM Wong: \u201cI think this is a good occasion to visit and to elevate our partnership and to do more together.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe membership in ASEAN gives us opportunities to expand our areas of cooperation, and that\u2019s exactly why we are setting up this new mechanism for bilateral consultations, which we have also with other ASEAN members, and now we have likewise with Timor-Leste.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the two countries are \u201cadding substance\u201d to their relationship with a new agreement for an established consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries, along with deeper cooperation in areas like human resource development, education and healthcare.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI believe with the development plans that Timor-Leste has and also their continued aspirations as a full member of ASEAN, there will be even more opportunities for cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of these opportunities will also be for Singapore businesses, he noted.<\/p>\n
Several \u201cintrepid\u201d Singaporeans have already entered Timor-Leste\u2019s emerging market. As Timor-Leste diversifies its economy, it hopes to branch out beyond oil and gas to new areas like hospitality, infrastructure and the blue economy, said PM Wong.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere may well be new opportunities for Singapore businesses, and our business associations may be interested, for example, to mount a business mission here, get businesses to come, so that they can see for themselves what these opportunities are.\u201d<\/p>\n