Phnom Penh: Cambodia continues to support Timor-Leste to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and highly values the country’s potential. President of Cambodian Senate Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen reaffirmed the stand and appreciation when receiving H.E. Ermenegildo Kupa Lopes, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to Cambodia, on Nov. 19.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Samdech Techo Hun Sen recalled that one of his main objectives for visiting Timor-Leste back in 2016 was to send out a message to other ASEAN members about the country’s progress and qualification to become the bloc’s new member. When Cambodia hosted the ASEAN Summit in 2022, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, who was Cambodian Prime Minister and chair of the meeting, saw the importance of Timor-Leste’s role as an observer country at all forums to get ready for its membership.
At the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane this year, current Prime Minister of Cambodia, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hu
n Manet, also voiced firm support for Timor-Leste to become an ASEAN member, added Samdech Techo Hun Sen. Being confident that Timor-Leste will become a potential member of ASEAN, the Senate President encouraged the country to continue a close collaboration with other ASEAN members so as to formalise the membership sooner.
Samdech Techo Hun Sen spoke highly of Timor-Leste’s solid capacity and experience in managing energy that Cambodia can learn from and thanked Timor-Leste for importing 4,000 tonnes of Cambodia’s rice in 2024. H.E. Ermenegildo Kupa Lopes deeply appreciated the continuous support of Cambodia as well as Samdech Techo Hun Sen for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN membership and strong bilateral relations between the two countries.
He also took the opportunity to extend the invitation from the President of Timor-Leste for Samdech Techo Hun Sen to visit the country, during which the Government of Timor-Leste hopes to award the Cambodian Senate President with the most honourable medal for his peacebuilding ef
forts in the region.