President Gusmao talks about Timor-Leste-Viet Nam ties
JAKARTA - The relations between Timor-Leste and Viet Nam have been established on strong foundations, based on common experiences and they will only strengthen, Timor-Leste President Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao has said.
President Gusmao gave interview to a Vietnam News Agency reporter in an interview on the occasion of his official visit to Viet Nam from August 8 at the invitation of Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong.
Asked how he assesses the current relations between Timor-Leste and Viet Nam, President Gusmao said: "The relations between Timor-Leste and Viet Nam have been established on strong foundations, based on common experiences. The people and Government of Viet Nam have always supported our right to self-determination and independence. As an independent and sovereign State, Timor-Leste has established diplomatic relations with Viet Nam, and we now look forward to exploring and developing further areas of cooperation in the years to come."
Regarding the prospects of the relations in the future and measures that both countries should take to further strengthen their cooperation, he said "The prospect for our future relations looks bright and very promising. Viet Nam has invaluable experiences in the development of agriculture and forestry, which Timor-Leste can learn from. I believe it is important to explore common interests in specific areas to consolidate our bilateral relationship."
He reviewed the two countries' similarities, saying that both nations experienced devastation and destruction at all levels (economically, socially and culturally) and today they are on a long and often tortuous path of post-conflict reconstruction. He affirmed "Based on such a common experience, there is no doubt that the Vietnamese people are very sympathetic and eager to know more of the situation in Timor-Leste."
Elaborating on the importance and objectives of his Viet Nam visit, the President said:
"We need to live harmoniously with our neighbors in the region and especially with ASEAN members. We enjoy very good relations with Southeast Asian countries, and have established diplomatic ties with a majority of them. It is our intention to become a member of ASEAN in the near future.
"Timor-Leste has just rejoined the family of nations and we still have much to learn from the experiences of other countries. With this visit, it is hoped that Timor-Leste will be able to learn from the experiences of Viet Nam in the areas of post-conflict reconstruction, economic development, agriculture and reforestation. Since 1986, Viet Nam has implemented reform policies to shift from a centralized economy to a market economy with socialist orientation. As the newest country in the world, Timor-Leste needs to learn and gain as much experience as possible so as to facilitate our reinsertion in the community of nations. As small as we are, we still hope to contribute to the joint efforts both in the region and in the world, to create a peaceful and secure world and to overcome global problems such as poverty, terrorism, environment, drugs and human trafficking and other transnational criminal organizations, transmissible diseases (HIV), etc. The importance of my visit should be seen within this context and I am confident that relations between our two nations will only strengthen."
Vietnam News Agency - August 08, 2005.
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