Kuala Lumpur: Timor-Leste's bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is progressing, according to the Philippines' Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, though she cautioned that membership is still subject to further consideration. "I can't speculate, but based on the discussions we've had, I think it's positive," she said, noting that Malaysia, the current ASEAN chair, appears eager to expedite the accession process of Timor-Leste.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lazaro stated that while there is momentum, several issues remain unresolved. "It's highly speculative. There's still a number of issues and discussions, but I think it's moving," she said. Timor-Leste, which applied for ASEAN membership in 2011, was granted observer status at high-level meetings in 2022 but is still undergoing evaluation for full integration.

Previous media reports indicated that Singapore had reservations about accepting Timor-Leste into the ASEAN fold due to its modest economic size, fearing it might hinder the realisation of the ASEAN Economic Community. On the future of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit, which will be held during this year's ASEAN Summit, Lazaro mentioned that discussions are ongoing about whether the tradition will continue. "It's something that is still up for discussion. We'll see how the summit goes," she said.

The ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) is a key preparatory phase ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place from May 26 to 27. The summit will gather leaders from the bloc's member states to discuss regional issues, foster economic cooperation, and advance the principles of inclusivity and sustainability. Kuala Lumpur will also concurrently host the second ASEAN-GCC Summit and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit.