Dili, February 19 (AseanAll)  — President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, J. Ramos-Horta received the Minister of Foreign Affairs II of Brunei Darussalam, Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, at the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace in Dili,on February 19, 2026.

The meeting concluded the Minister’s two-day official visit to Dili, serving as a high-level platform to reaffirm the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations and to consolidate support for Timor-Leste’s ongoing integration following its historic attainment of full ASEAN membership in late 2025.

During the discussions, Yusof emphasized that Brunei attaches great importance to Timor-Leste’s active role in the region, describing the country’s full membership as a significant milestone for the bloc. The dialogue focused on strengthening a strategic alliance covering vital development sectors, including education, human resource capacity building, agriculture, health, and technological connectivity. This partnership aims to ensure Timor-Leste is well-positioned for its future regional responsibilities, most notably its projected ASEAN Presidency in 2029.

Both Ramos-Horta and Yusof underscored the necessity of a unified and resilient ASEAN in the face of current global geopolitical uncertainties. The Minister praised the hospitality of the Timorese people and government, noting that as a “big family,” member states must continue to progress and develop together. He expressed confidence that Timor-Leste’s full participation continues to bring renewed strength and stability to the regional organization.