East Timor is seeking to further strengthen its connections with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in China, hoping to transform the deepening cooperation between ASEAN and the Greater Bay Area into real investment and technological benefits.
On June 30, Francisco Calvado-Leite, Deputy Prime Minister of East Timor, told the Hong Kong South China Morning Post that cooperation between ASEAN and the Greater Bay Area has the potential to become an important engine for regional growth. However, he warned that policy design should take into account inclusiveness and sustainability, to avoid imbalances in development outcomes.
He pointed out that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has significant advantages in the fields of technological innovation and financial services. Meanwhile, ASEAN as a whole has a vast market with a population of approximately 680 million people, as well as considerable development potential. Both sides have all the conditions to achieve deeper cooperation in areas such as supply chain resilience, digital transformation, and green and sustainable industries.
The report mentions that East Timor began the process of joining ASEAN in 2011 and officially joined last year. For a new member economy like East Timor, strengthening regional cooperation is not only an important way to attract external investment and technology transfer, but also a crucial means to improve its institutional and industrial capabilities in the context of global industrial chain restructuring.
Francisco Carvajal-Llamosa stated that cooperation between ASEAN and the Greater Bay Area should be oriented towards strengthening technological and scientific collaboration, while also serving the goal of inclusive economic growth.
East Timor Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbúdi Le
"International policies are most effective when they strengthen national systems, support local capacity building, facilitate technology transfer, and are consistent with national development priorities," he said. In an era of increasing global uncertainty and frequent disruptions to supply chains, the connections between different economies are becoming increasingly strong.
As a country that was historically under Portuguese colonial rule, East Timor also hopes to play the role of a bridge between Portuguese-speaking countries in Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
Additionally, Francisco Calbada-Ley pointed out that the implementation of cooperation policies between public and private sectors is equally crucial. It is an important support for building a resilient and competitive economic system. He noted that challenges such as climate change, food security, energy transitions, and digitalization all require coordinated responses at the regional level.
He mentioned that East Timor experienced an economic growth of 4.6% last year, and it is expected to continue to improve this year. These “encouraging” figures reflect the country’s ongoing efforts to increase regulatory transparency, improve infrastructure, and enhance digital connectivity.
We are learning. We are a small developing country, but we have prepared to do our best and contribute within our abilities. Francisco Carbalbadi Le said.
