IPDAL took part in the ceremony held in Lisbon to mark Timor-Leste’s accession as the 11th Member State of ASEAN, a historic milestone for Timorese diplomacy and for regional integration in Southeast Asia.

The Institute was represented by its President, Dr. Paulo Neves, and its Secretary-General, Gastón Ocampo, following an invitation from the Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Portugal, Isabel Amaral Guterres, and the Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Timor-Leste to the CPLP, Laura Soares Abrantes. The event brought together diplomatic representatives, Portuguese authorities and members of the international community to celebrate this decisive moment for the country.

Full membership of ASEAN strengthens Timor-Leste’s role in regional political dialogue, economic cooperation and the promotion of stability in Southeast Asia, while also creating new opportunities for articulation between ASEAN, the CPLP and the Lusophone world.

IPDAL’s presence reflects the Institute’s commitment to public diplomacy, to following the foreign policy of Portuguese-speaking countries and to promoting constructive and multilateral international relations, while also reinforcing the growth of our global scope of work beyond Latin America.