The Embassy of Timor-Leste in Washington, D.C. held a diplomatic reception on Monday, November 10, 2025, to recognize its formal admission as the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The event reflected years of preparation and cooperation that culminated in the official announcement on October 26, when ASEAN leaders in Kuala Lumpur formally welcomed Timor-Leste into the regional bloc.
Guests, including diplomats, U.S. government officials, business executives, and members of the Timorese diaspora, began arriving before 10 a.m. for the one-hour program. The invitation, signed by H.E. Ambassador José Luis Guterres and Madam Rogaia Amelia Castro, described it as a “reception to celebrate the historic occasion of the Admission of Timor-Leste as the 11th Member of ASEAN.” The embassy’s setting created a fitting atmosphere for meaningful engagement and reflection on the country’s diplomatic journey.
Deputy Chief of Mission Ms. Natividade Almeida served as mistress of ceremony. In her opening, she welcomed guests on behalf of the organizing committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, expressing appreciation to all who had gathered for the occasion. She then invited H.E. Ambassador Guterres to deliver his remarks and convey the message of the Prime Minister.
H.E. Ambassador Guterres described the day as a defining point in Timor-Leste’s foreign policy journey. He expressed gratitude to ASEAN member states, dialogue partners, and the United States for their continued support in the country’s pursuit of full membership. “The people of Timor-Leste will never forget the solidarity and encouragement that made this possible,” he said. “We enter ASEAN ready to contribute actively to a peaceful and prosperous region. This is the beginning of a new chapter for our country and for our engagement in Southeast Asia.”
The Ambassador went on to outline developments at the national level, noting that the National Parliament had recently approved a new budget to accelerate infrastructure development and strengthen economic growth. He acknowledged the support of the United States and announced that the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council would soon visit Dili to explore investment opportunities in mining, petroleum, and natural gas. Quoting Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão’s remarks from the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, he said, “Timor-Leste joins with humility and pride, fully embracing the values of mutual respect, peaceful cooperation, unity in diversity, and regional solidarity.”
Representing Malaysia, Mr. Saeed Farizal Syed Muhammad, Deputy Chief of Mission, delivered remarks on behalf of H.E. Ambassador Muhammad Shahrul Ikram bin Yaakob. He congratulated Timor-Leste and praised its dedication and readiness to integrate within ASEAN’s framework. “Your determination has strengthened our regional community,” he said. He also noted that Malaysia’s chairmanship under the theme Inclusivity and Sustainability reflects the collective vision of ASEAN to promote unity and balanced growth across the region.
H.E. Ambassador Nguyễn Quốc Dũng, who serves as both the Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Washington and the Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States, was represented by Deputy Chief of Mission Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Nga. She highlighted Timor-Leste’s steady progress from independence in 2002 to observer status in 2022 and full membership in 2025. “Timor-Leste’s inclusion reflects ASEAN’s enduring principles: respect for sovereignty, peaceful dialogue, and cooperation,” she said, recognizing the country’s perseverance and diplomatic maturity.
Following her remarks, representatives from Malaysia and Vietnam jointly handed the ASEAN flag to H.E. Ambassador Guterres. After the formal handover, the ASEAN anthem was played, marking a moment of collective pride before the flag was taken outside to be raised at the embassy.
The final address came from H.E. Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez of the Philippines, who described Timor-Leste’s membership as a valuable step for ASEAN’s collective progress. He reaffirmed his country’s readiness to collaborate closely with Timor-Leste in trade, education, and sustainable development. Ambassador Romualdez also thanked Timor-Leste for its expression of solidarity with the Philippines following recent typhoons, calling it a true reflection of ASEAN’s community spirit.
A short video titled “Promotion Video on Timor-Leste” followed, offering glimpses of the nation’s culture, landscapes, and investment potential. Afterward, guests gathered for a group photograph before proceeding to the reception area, where Timorese cuisine and freshly brewed coffee were served. The coffee, one of Timor-Leste’s most recognizable exports, drew particular attention from guests who continued discussions on trade, investment, and cooperation.
The reception convened Ambassadors from Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the Philippines, alongside envoys from Angola, Costa Rica, Russia, New Zealand, and Australia. Members of the Timorese community along the U.S. East Coast joined officials of the U.S. Department of State, private sector leaders, and representatives from the diplomatic and media corps, underscoring the broad support for Timor-Leste’s new chapter in regional engagement.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was established on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok by five founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Over time, Brunei Darussalam joined in 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1995, Laos and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. Timor-Leste’s admission in October 2025 expanded ASEAN to eleven member states with a combined population of nearly 700 million people and an economy valued at more than four trillion U.S. dollars.
Malaysia currently holds the ASEAN chairmanship under the leadership of Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, guided by the theme Inclusivity and Sustainability. The Philippines will assume the chairmanship in 2026. Timor-Leste is expected to take its first turn as chair in 2036, once the alphabetical rotation completes its next cycle.
As the program came to a close, Ms. Almeida expressed appreciation to members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, and guests present. She reiterated H.E. Ambassador Guterres’s optimism regarding Timor-Leste’s active participation within ASEAN and its future collaboration with regional partners. The reception concluded on a note of professional cordiality and mutual respect, affirming Timor-Leste’s new role in advancing regional cooperation.
For Timor-Leste, the reception was not merely ceremonial. It reflected the country’s growing influence in regional affairs, its commitment to multilateral engagement, and its readiness to contribute to the shared future of Southeast Asia.
