Before the 20th anniversary of East Timor's independence next year, Xanana Gusmman, the first president, told NHK that "it is a big achievement that the conflict has disappeared and the country has been unified." While emphasizing the significance of independence, he said that it will still take time to solve long-standing issues such as poverty reduction and fostering new industries.
Mr. Gusman was elected the first president in 2002, when he led the independence movement in East Timor under Indonesian rule and achieved independence.
Mr. Gusman, who recently came to Japan and interviewed NHK, emphasized the significance of independence, saying, "It is a great achievement that there are no conflicts and the country is unified" about the 20th anniversary of independence next year.
On the other hand, in East Timor, the poor make up more than 40% of the population, and the development of industries other than the resource sector, which covers 90% of the national revenue, has been a long-standing issue.
Regarding this situation, Mr. Gusman said, "We started building a country from a blank slate. It will take some time for the country to become rich."
On the other hand, regarding the expansion of Chinese companies, which has been increasing in recent years, he said, "Building international relations with all countries is indispensable for the development of the country," and expressed expectations for investment from each country including China. ..
He also pointed out the impact of global warming as a major threat facing the island nation of East Timor, and sought support from the international community for adaptation measures to mitigate damage such as cyclones and rising sea levels. I did.