Jakarta. Timor-Leste wants to lead ASEAN in 2029, according to the group’s secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn, as the bloc makes major changes to its charter to accept Dili.

Timor-Leste finally ended its over-a-decade-long wait when it joined ASEAN in 2025. Kao recently revealed that the Southeast Asian leaders did not only zero in on the Iran war fallout in their Cebu talks last week. They also discussed the bloc's new member and its upcoming chairmanship.

“The leaders expressed their appreciation of Timor-Leste’s intention to chair ASEAN in 2029,” Kao told a briefing in Jakarta on Monday. 

The duty of helming ASEAN rotates among its members each year. The last time Indonesia took on the role was in 2023, a time that saw Jakarta pursuing diplomatic efforts in the conflict-ridden Myanmar. The Philippines is the grouping's current chair. Manila has to make cost-cutting adjustments, including shifting countless meetings online to save costs after the war in Iran triggered an energy emergency.

Kao went on to say that ASEAN had adopted the so-called “Cebu Protocol” aimed at amending its foundational charter to include Timor-Leste in the enumeration of states. This marks the first amendment since its signature in 2007. The Cebu protocol document shows that the changes still need to undergo lawmaking processes in all ASEAN economies.

The diplomat also said that Timor-Leste’s integration into the group had been “gaining momentum”.

“The [ASEAN] leaders reaffirmed their commitment to support Timor-Leste in meeting its requirements for a full membership.”

Kao had previously told the press that Timor-Leste would eventually be a part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), an ASEAN-backed trade agreement that accounts for over 30% of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP). The tariff-slashing RCEP unites the 10 initial ASEAN economies, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Timor-Leste has set up a national council that will oversee the preparatory work for its 2029 chairmanship. According to the government website, this council aims to finish assessing the country’s infrastructure and financial readiness by the end of this year. 

In Cebu, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão told his counterparts that the group should step up energy cooperation amid the energy shocks, citing the regionwide oil-sharing pact. 

“Our shared goal is to build a safer, more diversified, and more sustainable energy system for our region,” Gusmão was quoted as saying by the government’s official website.

Kao has signaled that members would likely ratify this fuel-sharing agreement no later than November. This ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA) will enable members to supply energy to other Southeast Asian nations in need. The world today is facing severe energy disruptions primarily driven by the war in the Middle East and Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil choke point.

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