Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, affirmed his country's place within Southeast Asia, saying that Timor-Leste is "not an outsider joining a club, but a Southeast Asian nation joining a regional family." He made the remarks during an address at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Nanyang Technological University.

Gusmao underscored the importance of ASEAN's inclusive and consensus-driven approach in a time of global instability. He emphasized that no country in the region should be left behind and that "every voice must have a place at the table."