Singapore – Timor Leste's bilateral cooperation with China is increasing and it has been an "important development partner" since the country became independent, but new prime minister Rui Maria de Araujo said he does not see problems of any sort coming up from this.

Speaking to Channel NewsAsia's Teymoor Nabili on Between the Lines in his first major international interview since he was inaugurated just over a month ago, Dr Araujo dismissed concerns that China is putting undue influence on his small, poverty-stricken nation.

"We opt for non-aligned political commitment. We are a friend of everyone," he said. "And of course, we will be selective in terms pressures we face. But the most important thing in terms of the relationship is mutual benefit and mutual respect. That is the principle we should be following."

Dr Araujo also re-affirmed Timor Leste's desire to be an official member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

While there are concerns from smaller countries within ASEAN that their domestic industries would end up enriching foreign investors rather than the local economy, he said that plans were being put in place to ensure that everyone would benefit. "We are putting in place legal mechanisms and policy frameworks that would not only seek to benefit investors, but also benefit the local economy."

Dr Araujo has declared his intention to transform Timor Leste's government from a "giant with feet of clay" into one that is "leaner, more professional, more technical and less politicised body".

On big concern for him is bureaucracy. "We have 32,000 civil servants in a country of 1.2 million people. It is not too big, but the civil service is not showing signs of efficiency in its day-to-day work."

"We also have to factor in the fact that social development in the country is dependent of state investment and it will still be so in the next five to 10 years. If that state is the 'main investor' in the development of the country, then the civil service will have to be efficient, competent and be able to deliver the type of services required."

The prime minister said that plans are in place for a comprehensive review of the civil service.

"We aim to improve the quality of service delivery to the community," said Dr Araujo. "We will have to review legislation previously passed. We also aim to have a smaller but more efficient civil service in order for us to better manage state resources."

Corruption has also been an issue for Timor Leste, with the country ranked 133rd out of 175th in Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index. While Dr Araujo said he wants his country to have 'clean government', he admits that it is a challenge.

"One of the big problems we have is that internal controls are quite weak," he said. "We are starting to put in place important internal controls within the public administration. We also have bodies like the anti-corruption commission and the judicial system which are also working on that.

"It is a big task but with the current political environment and the support of the team that we have in place, I am confident that we'll be able to effect changes in that area." (CNA/ac)

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/exclusive-we-are-friends/1730016.html