Jakarta – World Bank managing director Sri Mulyani Indrawati commended Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao for his administrative and financial reform policies during the former's visit to Dili on Thursday.

"I would want to be a finance minister, if the prime minister is someone like you. Congratulations for all efforts that have been made by your government," said Mulyani, a former finance minister of Indonesia.

Mulyani also praised Timor Leste's "Strategic Plans", which is a set of development plans of the country for the next 20 years, Timor Leste prime minister office spokesman Naikoli Antonio Ramos said in an e-mail sent to Antara news agency.

Naikoli said, citing Mulyani, that Timor Leste needed such plans to optimize its use of its oil reserves to support its national development.

Gusmao was accompanied by Timor Leste Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis Gutteres and his entire cabinet in the meeting with Mulyani. The prime minister handed over a "friendly gift" to Mulyani after the meeting, although his office stopped short of saying what it was.