Il Nuovo Postiglione - East Timor joins ASEAN after 14-year campaign

Its Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao joined ASEAN leaders for a summit and signing ceremony in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, before posing for photographs together in interlocking arms.

"This is not only a dream realised, but a powerful affirmation of our journey -- one marked by resilience, determination and hope," Gusmao said.

"This is not the end of our journey. This is the beginning of an inspiring new chapter," he added.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country currently chairs ASEAN, said East Timor's accession "completes the ASEAN family -- reaffirming our shared destiny and deep sense of regional kinship".

"Within this community, Timor-Leste's development and its strategic autonomy will find firm and lasting support," Anwar said.

East Timor, also known by its Portuguese name Timor-Leste, is the youngest country in the region, having gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 after 24 years of occupation.

President Jose Ramos-Horta has long campaigned for ASEAN membership, and an application was first submitted in 2011 during his first term.

The country's admission is seen as one of the crowning achievements of Malaysia's ASEAN chairmanship.

East Timor was granted observer status to the regional body in 2022 but its full membership was delayed by various challenges.

The country continues to grapple with high levels of inequality, malnutrition and unemployment.

It remains heavily reliant on oil, with little diversification into other sectors, and some concerns remain over its ability to participate meaningfully in ASEAN's development agenda.

It also faces challenges in infrastructure development and human resource capacity, seen as critical for effective participation in ASEAN's economic community.

In September, thousands of student-led protesters demonstrated against a multi-million dollar plan to purchase Toyota Prado SUVs for each of the country's 65 members of parliament and lifetime pensions for former MPs.

Demonstrators and police clashed for two days, before the parliament cancelled the vehicles' procurement.

The parliament has also bowed to public pressure over MPs' pensions.

ASEAN began as a five-member bloc in 1967 and has gradually expanded, with Cambodia the most recent addition in 1999.

E.Scozzafava--INP