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East Timor’s new president pledges stronger ties with China

Newly elected President Jose Ramos-Horta has focused on diversifying the country's economy and reducing high poverty rates in his pledges to the nation.

Reuters

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was sworn in ahead of celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of independence for Asia’s youngest country.

East Timorese independence figure and Nobel laureate Jose Ramos-Horta has been inaugurated as the country's fifth president, pledging to dedicate his time in office to strengthen national unity and forge closer relations with China.

Thousands travelled to watch the inauguration in the capital Dili late on Thursday, with the 72-year-old sworn in just before midnight in a ceremony replete with fireworks and cannon fire.

Ramos-Horta, who spent decades as the exiled spokesperson for the independence movement, previously served as president from 2007 to 2012 and prime minister and foreign minister before that.

The new president said he would represent all Timorese, and seek to rebuild national unity after a protracted political impasse in the parliament.

Ramos-Horta, who won a decisive victory in a second round of voting last month, said ties with Indonesia, Australia and the region should be at the top of the national agenda and that relations with China would be strengthened.

"It is our intention to expand bilateral co-operation with China," he said.

"Especially in the areas of sustainable, organic agriculture, small industries, trade, new technologies, renewable energy, connectivity, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and urban and rural infrastructure."

He said he would push for greater food security and propose creating a coffee fund to protect farmers against global price fluctuations.

'A special relationship'

One of the most oil-and-gas dependent countries in the world, the half-island nation of 1.3 million people has grappled with diversifying its economy and reducing high rates of poverty.

While he ran in the presidential elections as an independent candidate, Ramos-Horta was backed by the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) party, which is headed by former President and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.

Gusmao has strongly promoted the Tasi Mane project, which would see oil and gas from the Greater Sunrise field developed onshore, with China touted as a potential developer.

Ramos-Horta also said he would continue to foster a special relationship with the United States and advocate for East Timor to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The inauguration ceremony on Friday marked 20 years since the restoration of East Timor's independence.

SOURCE: Reuters