In an interview granted to the Vietnam New Agency, Ambassador of Timor Leste to Vietnam João Pereira described the country’s ASEAN assession as a “dream becoming true”.

The ambassador said that this is a moment of profound importance for the nation and its people, the culmination of 14 years of persistent effort. He said the achievement represented not only the realisation of a long-cherished dream, but also a strong affirmation of Timor Leste’s journey – one marked by resilience, determination and hope to become an inseparable part of a community united by shared values and aspirations.

According to Pereira, Timor Leste wishes to make meaningful contributions to regional peace, stability and prosperity, while joining collective efforts to enhance resilience, strengthen solidarity and ensure that no one is left behind. These goals, he added, embody the country’s highest aspirations and the very reason behind its pursuit of ASEAN membership. The diplomat emphasised that Timor Leste’s accession reflects the enduring spirit of its people – a democracy forged through hardship, now stepping confidently into a new era of cooperation and development within one of the world’s most dynamic regions. With a population of over 600 million, ASEAN shares a common vision of peace, stability and prosperity, anchored in inclusive growth, green transition and stronger human-to-human, government-to-government and business-to-business connectivity. These priorities, he noted, align closely with the goals and commitments of Timor Leste as it joins the ASEAN family.

Commenting on bilateral relations with Vietnam, Pereira said the two countries have developed a close and stable partnership since Timor Leste’s independence and the establishment of its Embassy in Hanoi. He reaffirmed that Vietnam, as one of the region’s key pillars, remains a highly valued partner of Timor Leste, which looks forward to strengthening cooperation across multiple fields.

The ambassador expressed his hope that Vietnam would soon establish an embassy in Timor Leste, saying this would enhance bilateral engagement and open new opportunities for cooperation, particularly as both countries now share the ASEAN framework. He highlighted Vietnam’s strategic role in the region and noted that its strong, stable economic growth over the past decades had served as an inspiration for Timor Leste in pursuing closer and broader ties.

Pereira underlined that ASEAN membership would create more opportunities for Timor Leste to learn from Vietnam’s experience and to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Since 2002, he said, bilateral collaboration had developed most dynamically in telecommunications and media, with Vietnam's Viettel Telemore making a notable contribution to Timor Leste’s development by providing accessible and reliable telecommunications services.

He added that the two countries will continue to promote cooperation in agriculture, education, science and technology, information technology, and oil and gas. He noted that the Vietnamese Prime Minister had expressed an interest in partnering with Timor Leste in oil and mineral exploration and in boosting investment in agriculture and fisheries. The ambassador stressed the importance of both sides working together to translate these shared interests into concrete cooperation frameworks, ensuring practical and effective results in the years ahead.

PMs of Vietnam, Timor Leste pledge to enhance ties

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Timor Leste counterpart Xanana Gusmao on September 5 agreed to increase the exchange of delegations to promote the traditional friendship and connectivity between the two countries.