PHNOM PENH — On May 7, Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen will visit Timor-Leste, where he will address parliament and receive the highest honor for his contribution to the country over the past two decades.

According to a press statement released by the Senate, Hun Sen will commence his visit on May 7 at the invitation of President Jose Ramos-Horta. He is scheduled to hold talks with Timor-Leste’s leaders, including Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, President Ramos-Horta, and President of Parliament Maria Fernanda Lay.

In addition to the bilateral discussions, Hun Sen will speak at a special session of the Timor-Leste parliament. He will share his experiences as a leader, of turning a genocide-ravaged nation plagued by poverty into one of prosperity and freedom, the press statement read.

In recognition of his contribution and support for Timor-Leste over the past two decades, President Ramos-Horta will confer the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the country's highest civilian award, upon former Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Cambodia and Timor-Leste established diplomatic relations in 2002 after Timor-Leste declared independence from Indonesia following a United Nations referendum that the same year. Ties have significantly developed over the past years, with the leaders of the two countries exchanging visits.

Senate President Hun Sen, during his time as prime minister, paid an official visit to Timor-Leste in 2016, while Ramos-Horta visited Cambodia in October 2022.

As both are members of the least-developed-country club, Cambodia has also unwaveringly supported Timor-Leste on the regional and international stages.

Timor-Leste President Ramos-Horta has repeatedly hailed Cambodia’s effort to support his country’s admission as the latest member of ASEAN, expressing a desire for the friendship between Cambodia and Timor-Leste to advance further to a new height.  

Timor Leste formally applied to become a member of ASEAN in 2011. It took 10 years for the ASEAN leaders, under Cambodia’s chairmanship in 2021, to agree in principle to officially admit the country as the 11th member of the regional grouping, giving it observer status to take part in all summits and plenaries.

Since then, the members have been discussing Timor-Leste's ASEAN membership, but there is a strong possibility that the country can become the eleventh member of ASEAN in 2025, coinciding with Malaysia's chairmanship.  

Indonesia: Part of Hun Sen’s Regional Tour

Before Timor-Leste, Hun Sen will visit Indonesia on May 5, where he is set to hold bilateral talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Senate Speaker Emmanuel Sinzohagera, and House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani, according to the press statement.

During his visit, Hun Sen will give two keynote speeches, one at the ASEAN Secretariat and the other at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).

At the ASEAN Secretariat, he is expected to focus on the theme of ASEAN, Cambodia, and the World, celebrating Cambodia's 26-year membership in ASEAN. At ERIA, he will discuss Cambodia's perspective and experience in peacebuilding, the press statement read.