New President East Timor Independent Interview Willingness to Join ASEAN Early

Ramos Holta, the new president of East Timor, who became independent 20 years before the fierce armed struggle, responded to an independent interview with NHK.

Ramos Holta expressed his willingness to join the ASEAN-Association of Southeast Asian Nations as soon as possible, and expressed his hope for Japan to cooperate in the field of human resource development.

It will be 20 years since East Timor, with a population of about 1.2 million, was dominated by Portugal and Indonesia for more than 400 years, and became independent with the support of the international community such as Japan, which is in a fierce armed struggle.

Ramos Holta, who won the Nobel Peace Prize as a leader of the independence movement and was newly elected president in the final vote of the presidential election held last month, will be in NHK's capital Dili before the inauguration ceremony on the 19th. I accepted an independent interview.

"There have been many changes in the last 20 years. At the beginning of independence, there were only 20 doctors in the country, but now there are more than 1,100," he emphasized to further develop the country. bottom.

"We aim to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the next year or two. We would like to attract investment from Southeast Asia, which has a population of 700 million and an economic scale of $ 4 trillion," and is eager to join ASEAN as soon as possible. Was shown.

Expectations for Japan to cooperate in the field of human resource development

He said to Japan, "I want you to train young people to work in Japan by increasing the acceptance of international students from East Timor and establishing a vocational training school in East Timor," and cooperated in the field of human resource development. Showed expectations for.

On the other hand, regarding the current situation in which China is increasing its presence in the field of infrastructure development in East Timor, "We have not received loans from China. As a national leader, pay attention to loans and agreements that have a negative impact on the economy. We must do it, "he said, stating a policy to avoid excessive dependence on China.