ASEAN Sec-Gen Hails ‘Twin Successes' Of 46th Summit With Vision 2045, Timor-Leste Admission
By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar
JAKARTA, May 28 (Bernama) -- ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn on Wednesday hailed the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur as a success, citing the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and progress toward Timor-Leste's full membership as landmark outcomes.
Held under Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', the two-day summit embodied the spirit of ASEAN's collective aspirations, he said.
Kao highlighted the 'twin successes' of the summit - the launch of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 with four strategic plans, and the consensus to admit Timor-Leste as ASEAN's 11th full member, with formal induction expected at the October summit.
'Leaders reached consensus on Timor-Leste's full membership during the summit's retreat session,' he said, noting that a dedicated Timor-Leste unit has been established within the ASEAN Secretariat to support the accession process.
He made the remarks during a briefing on the summit's outcomes—including the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit—attended by the diplomatic corps and media at the ASEAN Headquarters.
Reflecting on the overall outcome, Kao said the summit was successful in terms of participation, substance, and organisation, achieving its intended goals, with a total of 22 outcome documents adopted during the summits.
On internal challenges, Kao said ASEAN leaders engaged in 'frank and candid' discussions, particularly regarding the crisis in Myanmar and regional economic pressures.
'External meetings with China and the GCC also emphasised trust-building both within the region and with external partners,' he stressed.
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