TIMOR LESTE THANKS MALAYSIA FOR DEVELOPMENT.

TIMOR LESTE THANKS MALAYSIA FOR DEVELOPMENT.

MELAKA, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Visiting Timor Leste President Dr Jose Ramos Horta expressed his country's gratitude to Malaysia for assisting in the development and stability of his country.

He said Malaysia had been consistent through the South-South solidarity programmes and was the first country to support its membership in ASEAN under former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"We are a small country with 1.1 million population, and we hope, one day, to reciprocate by assisting Malaysia," he told reporters after a visit to Putra Hospital here.

Earlier, the president and his delegation -- on a two-day official visit to the historic state -- were given a briefing by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam at Kompleks Seri Negeri here at Ayer Keroh.

Dr Jose, who visited Melaka several years ago as Timor Leste foreign minister, was also treated to a luncheon at the Portuguese Settlement here before being taken on a boat ride at the Melaka river here.

Dr Jose said his small nation which achieved independence seven years ago, saw a 10 per cent growth in the economy last year.

"We hope we can sustain our economic growth this year, despite the international financial crisis," he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ali said Melaka offered medical tourism expertise to the Timor Leste people and was looking into further development in youth cooperation between the two countries.

Currently, Melaka is hosting 20 Timor Leste citizens through sponsorship programmes to further their education here.

News on BERNAMA.com - 20 January 2009