Timor Leste Ambassador: Vietnam's 30-year journey in ASEAN is valuable and worth learning

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President of Timor Leste Ramos-Horta at the high-level plenary session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2025 on February 26. (Photo: TH)

The path to successful integration

Vietnam's accession to ASEAN in 1995 was a very important milestone, not only for Vietnam but also for the whole region. Vietnam brought to ASEAN profound strategic perspectives on politics and economics.

Since joining the Association, Vietnam’s foreign policy has demonstrated its conformity with ASEAN’s fundamental principles, such as non-interference in internal affairs, consensus and regional cooperation. Although at that time Vietnam’s socio -economic situation was not as developed as it is today, Vietnam has demonstrated a strong commitment to becoming an active and responsible member.

Timor Leste Ambassador to Vietnam Joao Pereira. (Photo: Linh Nguyen)

After 30 years, Vietnam has truly become one of the strong pillars of ASEAN. For Timor Leste, that journey is a valuable lesson. We wish to learn from Vietnam's successful path to integration into ASEAN.

Currently, Timor Leste is making efforts to adjust its legal and institutional systems to be consistent with the ASEAN Charter and regional standards. Timor Leste wishes to become a responsible member, actively participating in all cooperation mechanisms of the Association, including summits and ministerial conferences.

After more than a year working in Vietnam, I can confidently affirm that Vietnam is a country full of aspirations and vision. The whole world knows about Vietnam's glorious history in the struggle for independence and national defense. But what is more impressive is that Vietnam has turned those historical lessons into a driving force for growth and development. Vietnam is moving steadily forward.

Currently, Vietnam is considered one of the safest and fastest growing economies in the region. In the first 6 months of 2025, Vietnam led the region in economic growth rate, with foreign direct investment in Vietnam reaching 21 billion USD. These economic indicators further strengthen Vietnam's role as an economic driving force in ASEAN.

Not only in the economic field, Vietnam is also known as a peaceful and stable country and increasingly attracts a large number of international tourists. Vietnam will host the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in October 2025 - a testament to Vietnam's growing prestige in global governance.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor Leste Bendito dos Santos Freitas within the framework of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM 58) on July 9 in Malaysia. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Ambitious but achievable goals

Vietnam has been affirming its proactive and active role in ASEAN, not only in economic terms, but also in political and socio-cultural terms. Timor-Leste wishes to learn from Vietnam’s experience and promote bilateral cooperation. The President and Prime Minister of Timor-Leste have repeatedly stressed the importance of further deepening relations with Vietnam.

Timor Leste President José Ramos-Horta has made two visits to Vietnam in recent times. The two sides are actively coordinating to implement high-level delegation exchanges in the coming time.

I am really impressed with Vietnam's recent reforms. Timor Leste is also in the process of decentralization reform, but what Vietnam has achieved in less than a year is unprecedented.

Reducing the number of ministries and branches, converting local government from three levels to two levels are breakthrough steps. From 63 provinces and cities, the whole country has reduced to 34 provincial-level administrative units, including 28 provinces and 6 cities; the number of commune-level administrative units (communes, wards, towns) has been significantly reduced - this is a reform of very large scale.

As someone who has worked in governance, I congratulate the Government and people of Vietnam. I can confidently say that this is one of the best-executed reforms I have seen – not just in the region but globally. General Secretary To Lam has made it very clear that the goal of these reforms is to elevate Vietnam to the international level, with a double-digit growth target by 2030. Vietnam is setting ambitious but achievable targets.

Currently, Vietnam has more than 200 billionaires – an astonishing number. Vietnam is approaching the group of 20 countries with the highest economic growth rate in the world. All of these show Vietnam's progress in governance and socio-economic stability.

The Vietnamese people have every right to be proud of their country's leaders, talented, decisive and dedicated leaders. Congratulations to the Government and people of Vietnam.