Timor-Leste’s ASEAN admission “reflects the strength of its democracy, built through regular elections, peaceful political transitions and a vibrant civil society that continues to hold institutions accountable,” Lin says. Timor-Leste, Southeast Asia’s smallest economy, is now ASEAN’s newest member.

The former Portuguese colony, once called East Timor, has come a long way since 2002, when it gained independence from Indonesia after 24 years of brutal occupation. Back then Timor-Leste had “no economy to speak of,

President Donald Trump, during his trip to Asia, will participate in the 47th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia before making stops in Japan and South Korea.

The meetings took place on the first day of the 47th Asean Summit in the Malaysian capital. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The Philippines formally accepted the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Chairship from Malaysia during the closing

East Timor has been formally admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the group’s first expansion since the 1990s

Beijing is hoping to use an expanded free trade deal to portray itself as the bloc’s alternative to the United States.

JOLLIBEE has once again reaffirmed its status as an iconic brand, as it emerged as Asean’s top Restaurant Brand in Brand Finance’s Asean 500 2025 report.

Securing financing remains the critical barrier to realizing the $800-billion ASEAN Power Grid, which aims to enable cross-border power trading in the region.