JAKARTA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, accompanied by several ministers, has begun a two-day state visit to Timor-Leste aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two Southeast Asian nations, local media reported on Tuesday.

The visit is said to underscore Malaysia's support for Timor-Leste, as it prepares to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the bloc's 11th member this year.

Malaysia currently holds the ASEAN chairmanship.