KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed strong support for Timor-Leste’s bid to become a full member of Asean and welcomed Papua New Guinea’s interest in joining the regional grouping.
In his maiden address during the 46th Asean Summit yesterday, he expressed hope that Timor-Leste would become a full member this year and proposed that Papua New Guinea be considered for future membership.
This marked Prabowo’s first appearance at the summit since taking office on October 20 last year.
Asean currently comprises 10 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Timor-Leste, which applied for Asean membership in 2011, was granted observer status at high-level meetings in 2022 but is currently undergoing evaluation for full integration.
Papua New Guinea has also signalled its intention to join Asean. On March 10, local daily The National reported that Prime Minister James Marape said his country planned to join Asean to benefit from Southeast Asia’s economic rise.
Speaking at the Osaka 2025 World Exposition launch in Japan, he said aligning with Asean would open new economic opportunities, with an official announcement expected next year.
During the summit’s plenary session, Prabowo also called for stronger Asean institutions, including a more empowered central body and secretary-general, to better respond to emerging challenges.
“We commemorate 10 years of the Asean Community and take pride in our progress in economic integration, growth, and social cooperation. But we must work hard to act more effectively.
“In the current situation of geopolitical uncertainty, the stronger Asean is, the more we will be heard in the discourse of the great powers. We know now that only those with strength will be respected,” he said, according to remarks released by the Foreign Ministry.
Prabowo highlighted Asean's population size, comparable to that of the European Union, and its status as one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions.
“This century is projected to be the Asian century. Let us not underestimate our own strength and power,” he said.
The 46th Asean Summit is being held under Malaysia’s 2025 chairmanship theme, 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'.
This year also marks Malaysia’s fifth time chairing the regional bloc, following previous terms in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
— Bernama
