Phnom Penh (FN), May 9 – Timorese prime minister Taur Matan Ruak said Timor-Leste could attend the current ASEAN Summit in Indonesia is due to the support by Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen.

His statement was made during his bilateral meeting with premier Hun Sen on Tuesday (May 9) ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Summits and Related Meetings

On this occasion, the Timorese prime minister thanked premier Hun Sen for his great efforts in order to make ASEAN accept Timor-Leste to be the 11th member of ASEAN. He also informed Samdech that the presence of Timor-Leste in the 42nd ASEAN Summits and Related Meetings in Indonesia is inseparable from the assistance of Samdech.

For his part, Samdech voiced support on Timor-Leste to become an official member of ASEAN.

Regarding the Cambodia-Timor-Leste cooperation, Samdech wanted Timor-Leste to have food security. Samdech also wanted Timorese investors to invest in Cambodia, setting up a rice mill and export rice to Timor-Leste.

Lastly, the Timorese premier accepted the recommendations of Samdech on food security for the development of agriculture and food security.

Taur Matan Ruak is invited to attend the 42nd ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings held from 10-11 May 2023 in Labuan Bajo, the Republic of Indonesia as the 11th member of ASEAN.
=FRESH NEWS