Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas joined the opening ceremony and plenary session as Timor-Leste reaffirmed its commitment to ASEAN Community building.
Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, attended the opening ceremony and Plenary Session of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in Pasay City, Philippines, on 21 July. He was accompanied by Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Rangel as Timor-Leste joined ASEAN foreign ministers and senior officials at the start of the ministerial meetings held under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship.
The opening ceremony officially commenced the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and its related meetings under the chairmanship theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together.” During the plenary session at the Philippine International Convention Center, Minister Bendito joined discussions on ASEAN Community building, the implementation of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), ASEAN’s external relations and dialogue partnerships, and preparations for the Post Ministerial Conferences, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
Minister Bendito reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s commitment to contributing to ASEAN Community building and to working closely with ASEAN Member States in strengthening ASEAN unity, centrality, resilience and regional integration. He also reaffirmed the country’s support for implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and promoting peace, stability, sustainable development and a rules based regional order through regional cooperation and dialogue.
The ministers also considered the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Annual Report and discussed the adoption of the Joint Communiqué and other key outcome documents. The ministerial meetings take place from 21 to 24 July and provided Timor-Leste with another opportunity to engage with ASEAN Member States and dialogue partners on regional priorities.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, TATOLI
