Timor-Leste keen to join ASEAN

Timor-Leste said it is committed to building its human resources in order to contribute fully to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

SINGAPORE: Timor-Leste said it is committed to building its human resources in order to contribute fully to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao made these remarks during a lecture in Singapore on Tuesday, organised by the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Mr Gusmao, who is also the country’s Defence and Security Minister, noted that since 2008, Timor-Leste has enjoyed average economic growth rates of above 10 per cent annually.

However, despite having some of the world's most competitive tax rates, it still needs to radically improve its human resources, as well as build core national infrastructure and eliminate extreme poverty.

Timor Leste is the youngest nation in the Asia-Pacific.

Speaking to Channel NewsAsia after the lecture, Mr Gusmao explained why it is important to be part of ASEAN.

"In this globalising world, we cannot be alone. And looking at our geographical location, we are part of Southeast Asia. That is why we said better to join, to participate in one or another way not only to the region but to the world. We are in a small way trying to be a 'contributory' at least in ideas, in finding solutions to a few problems that we can think about or we can address,” he said.

- CNA/fa

By Augustine Anthuvan

POSTED: 04 Jun 2013