Dili, May 12 (AseanAll)  —The Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Taur Matan Ruak, accompanied by a delegation, attended the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, that took place between May 9th and 11th 2023.

Timor-Leste was officially invited by the ASEAN Presidency, currently held by Indonesia, to participate formally for the first time in an ASEAN Summit as the eleventh member country (but still with observer status) after being unanimously admitted by the ten member countries, in November 2022, during the 41st Summit that took place in Phnom Penh, under the Presidency of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

During this ASEAN Summit, the Head of the Government of Timor-Leste held bilateral meetings with the Heads of State and Governments of the ASEAN member countries, to deepen relations and cooperation, both at the bilateral and multilateral levels, within the ASEAN framework.

The Head of the Government and his delegation returned to the country on May 11th, 2023.