[In an exclusive interview with Channel NewsAsia's Sujadi Siswo, Timor Leste Prime Minister Dr Rui Maria de Araujo discussed plans for reform and the future needs of his people.]

Sujadi Siswo, Dili – Timor Leste, Asia's youngest democracy, is undertaking major reforms after it underwent a peaceful leadership transition in February.

The country gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 and held its last democratic elections in 2012. The nation is now led by a younger generation of leaders, different from the likes of independence fighters former prime minister Xanana Gusmao and former president Jose Ramos-Horta.

Current Prime Minister Dr Rui Maria de Araujo spoke exclusively with Channel NewsAsia's Sujadi Siswo in Dili.

Q: It has been just over three months since you took office. What has been the major focus for your government?

A: The focus of the next two years or so will be mainly on a reform on the public administration of this country, and then focusing on harmonising the legal framework that we have in place, ranging from administrative areas to investment revenues. And then the third area is reform, fiscal reform, to start a new phase of our development focusing more on less dependency on oil, diversifying our economy.

Q: What initiatives or plans have been put in place to diversify the country's economy?

A: In terms of diversification efforts in the economy, not much has happened, but we've established some of the background, groundwork. Two areas of the economy are being considered as important for the diversification, agriculture and tourism.

Q: Timor Leste's membership in ASEAN is being considered. What is Timor Leste doing in preparation for its entry into the regional bloc?

A: We are expecting one last technical assessment this year, I think in July, on the social and cultural areas. In fact the assessment done on the political and security area was done by experts from Singapore and Thailand. The report has been submitted to the Secretariat already.

Now on our side, we've been taking proactive action in opening embassies in all the country members of ASEAN. In the meantime we've been part of many technical meetings in the region. So things are moving in the right direction.

Q: You are seen as representing the younger generation of leaders in Timor Leste. How different are the challenges facing your generation compared to the earlier generation – the likes of Mr Xanana Gusmao and Mr Ramos-Horta?

A: The current generation, or the generation of my age, is a transition between the previous generation with historical links to the direct struggle that we had in the past, but also with their eyes to the future. So we have to really make sure that we can deliver results in the development, that's one way to deal with the expectations.

And to some extent, sometimes they are not very sophisticated things. People want roads for them to move around in the country, to bring their products to the market, people want water and sanitation. Clean water for them, particularly in the rural areas. People want their children to go to school, school with good quality. And people want to have two or three meals a day in their homes.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/timor-leste-plans-major/1936580.html