"East Timor has joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the bloc's 11th member state in a move Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao hailed as a dream realised. The flag of East Timor, which is also known as Timor-Leste, was added to ASEAN's other 10 on Sunday at a formal ceremony at the bloc's annual summit at the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, drawing loud applause."
"For the people of Timor-Leste, this is not only a dream realised, but a powerful affirmation of our journey one marked by resilience, determination and hope, Gusmao said. Our accession is a testament to the spirit of our people, a young democracy, born from our struggle, he said. This is not the end of a journey. This is the beginning of an inspiring new chapter."
East Timor joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the bloc's 11th member at a formal ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, with its flag added alongside the other ten. The accession follows a 14-year bid and is regarded as a major achievement of Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship. Membership opens new avenues for trade, investment and regional cooperation for the young democracy. East Timor endured three centuries of Portuguese rule, abrupt decolonization in 1975, and subsequent occupation by Indonesia before winning full independence in 2002. An application for ASEAN membership was first submitted in 2011, and national leaders long advocated membership to secure the country's future.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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