Kuala lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that Timor Leste will officially become the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on October 26, during the bloc's summit in Kuala Lumpur. Anwar made this statement in Seri Iskandar, located in Malaysia's Perak state.

According to Anadolu Agency, Anwar emphasized Malaysia's longstanding support for Timor Leste's membership, highlighting recent efforts to secure its acceptance as a permanent member of ASEAN. Malaysia currently holds the rotating chair of the regional organization.

The 47th ASEAN Summit is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28, with global leaders in attendance, including US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The summit will also see participation from ASEAN member heads of government and dialogue partners.

In a joint statement on July 9, ASEAN foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Timor Leste's integration into the bloc's economic frameworks. They aim to expedite its involvement in major regional agreements.

Timor Leste, recognized as the youngest nation in Southeast Asia, applied for ASEAN membership in 2011, almost ten years after gaining independence from Indonesia in 2002. ASEAN, a regional bloc founded in Bangkok on August 8, 1967, currently includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.