Jose Ramos-Horta Asserts Timor-Leste's Readiness to Lead ASEAN in 2029

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta has asserted his country’s readiness to hold the rotating ASEAN chairmanship for the year 2029, stating that preparations for this responsibility have been underway since this year.

“We are working alongside the current ASEAN chairpersons, as well as the holders for 2027 and 2028, to align policies and priorities to ensure continuity,” the President of Timor-Leste said on Tuesday.

Speaking after serving as a speaker at the “Leadership Lecture” organised by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in Jakarta, he noted that one of the primary duties of an ASEAN leader is to maintain continuity in regional policy.

He stated that the ASEAN chair should not be a party that establishes new mandates without consensus, nor should they abruptly cancel or suspend decisions made by ASEAN leaders in previous summits.

Ramos-Hota also mentioned that if his administration has new initiatives for ASEAN, they will propose them to Southeast Asian leaders as soon as possible, rather than waiting for Timor-Leste’s official chairmanship in 2029.

Regarding the specific focus areas for Timor-Leste as an ASEAN member, the President stated that his administration aims to promote conflict prevention efforts at both the regional and national levels.

He noted that the diversity of ethnicities, religions, and economic disparities among the populations of Southeast Asian nations could serve as a