RI an important partner for Timor Leste

Timor Leste President Jose Ramos Horta considers Indonesia an important neighbor that could help the new country boost its development.

"Indonesia plays an important role in Timor Leste's national development," he said in his address to the Annual Asian Summit for Sustainable Innovation in Singapore on Friday.

Although Timor Leste seceded from Indonesia following the victory of pro-independence camp in the UN-sponsored referendum in 1999, Indonesia had always contributed to the Timor Leste national development, he said.

"We do 70 percent of our foreign trade with Indonesia," he said.

He said Indonesia also had assisted Timor Leste in developing its human resources as most of its youths pursued their higher education in Indonesia.

Timor Leste also had learned from Indonesia in eradicating corruption by establishing a corruption eradication commission, he said.

He said his country also had drafted a 25-year development program. The government  has set target of meeting power and clean water needs by 2013, he said.

The summit featured a total of 28 influential figures in Asia.