Timor – Leste wants to sign special strategic partnership with Malaysia

K PRAGALATH

Timor – Leste President Jose Ramos Horta is looking forward to have his country join ASEAN as a full member.

In addition he is hoping that both nations would be signing strategic partnership agreements.

“We want to have special strategic partnership with Malaysia.

“We have to expand our public infrastructure and (develop our) oil and gas with Malaysia,” said the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

He said this on the sidelines of a book launch entitled Anwar Ibrahim: Global Justice and Peace Through Dialogue.

The book launch was jointly organised by Global Leadership and Dialogue Initiative and Rights Foundation in Kuala Lumpur.

The book is the latest, penned by former Balik Pulau MP and lawyer Yusmadi Yusoff.

As for ASEAN membership, Ramos Horta said that his country is in the midst of meeting all the necessary criteria to become a full fledged member by October this year.