ASEAN officials discussed Timor-Leste’s integration priorities and coordination with development partners.
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community, H.E. Satvinder Singh, joined a coffee session hosted by H.E. Teo Lay Cheng, Ambassador of Singapore to Timor-Leste, in Dili on 1 October 2026. The session was attended by Heads of Mission of ASEAN Member States to Timor-Leste and representatives of development partners to exchange views on Timor-Leste’s first year as ASEAN’s 11th Member State and coordinate support for its integration priorities.
The session provided an opportunity for ASEAN representatives and development partners to discuss developments relating to Timor-Leste’s participation in ASEAN and coordination of support on the ground. Discussions focused on aligning assistance with Timor-Leste’s integration priorities, including those under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan V (2026–2030).
H.E. Satvinder Singh participated in the discussion in his capacity as Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community. His participation highlighted the role of the ASEAN Secretariat in supporting Timor-Leste’s integration into ASEAN and in coordinating efforts related to the ASEAN Economic Community.
H.E. Teo Lay Cheng hosted the session as Singapore’s Ambassador to Timor-Leste, with the participation of diplomatic representatives from ASEAN Member States based in Dili. Representatives of development partners also took part in the exchange, providing an opportunity to discuss coordination of support for Timor-Leste’s integration process.
Timor-Leste became ASEAN’s 11th Member State in 2025, making 2026 its first year as a full ASEAN Member State. The discussions in Dili therefore focused on practical coordination and alignment of support with the country’s priorities as it undertakes its integration into ASEAN frameworks and programmes.
The IAI Work Plan V (2026–2030) provides a framework relevant to ASEAN’s efforts to support integration and development priorities. The coffee session provided a setting for ASEAN representatives and development partners to exchange views on how support could be aligned with Timor-Leste’s priorities under the current work plan.
Source: ASEAN
