Phnom Penh (FN), Nov. 13 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, chair of 2022 ASEAN Summits, said that Cambodia and other ASEAN members play an equal role to grant Timor-Leste an observer status and admit the country to be the 11th member of ASEAN.

The premier spoke in a press conference on Sunday (Nov 13) at the Peace Palace after successfully concluding the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits.

"Cambodia, among the other ASEAN members, has contributed to admitting Timor-Leste to become the 11th member. Cambodia cannot work alone without the assistance and support of ASEAN partners. These are all equal parts to reach consensus,” the premier underlined.

The situation in which Timor-Leste became an observer of ASEAN was more convenient than when Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar applied for the ASEAN membership as these three countries had to be observers for a longer period of time, the premier added.

Samdech continued, Cambodia must also assist Timor-Leste so that the country can increase its capacity to work with ASEAN and host the upcoming ASEAN Summit.

Australia has also promised to jointly assist Timor-Leste in capacity building, the premier said.

On 11 November 2022, under Cambodia’s chairmanship, Timor-Leste was eventually admitted to be the 11th member of ASEAN after the country applied for the ASEAN membership since 2011.
=FRESH NEWS