East Timor leader pushes for ASEAN membership

East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta was hopeful on Tuesday that the youngest country in Asia could become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year.
Ramos-Hortawas hosted by Indonesia's President Joko Widodoat an official ceremony on Tuesday in the presidential palace in Bogor.Ramos-Horta said that his government has fulfilled all necessary requirements to be the newest member of the bloc, and his country expected that Widodo would maximize his role as the chair of ASEAN next year to accelerate the acceptance of East Timor as the 11th member of the regional grouping.East Timor applied for full membership of ASEAN in 2011 but ASEAN has yet to respond to the request due to its small economic size and poverty issues.