Jakarta, 8 April 2026 – H.E. Elisa Maria da Silva today presented her Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, formally commencing her tenure as the Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to ASEAN.
The Presentation of the Letter of Credence was followed by a courtesy call, during which Secretary-General Dr. Kao congratulated Ambassador Da Silva on her appointment and expressed confidence in her ability to contribute meaningfully to the ASEAN Community-building and regional integration efforts. He emphasized that the Ambassador’s extensive diplomatic experience would be an invaluable asset to the work of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR).
Secretary-General Dr. Kao also commended Timor-Leste for its steadfast commitment and meaningful contributions to ASEAN, following its admission as the eleventh Member State of ASEAN at the 47th ASEAN Summit, held in October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
During the meeting, Secretary-General Dr. Kao said, “Timor-Leste can play a meaningful role in advancing the implementation of the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, particularly in contributing to regional integration and fostering a more cohesive ASEAN Community.”
“As ASEAN’s newest Member State, Timor-Leste reaffirms its strong commitment to ASEAN unity, a people-centered Community, and meaningful contributions to regional peace and sustainable development. We remain dedicated to working closely with all Member States and Partners,” said Ambassador Da Silva.
Secretary-General Dr. Kao reaffirmed the ASEAN Secretariat’s readiness to support Ambassador Da Silva and the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to ASEAN in Jakarta, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration between the CPR and the ASEAN Secretariat in advancing ASEAN’s goals and objectives, as well as supporting Timor-Leste’s full and effective integration into ASEAN.