Louis Beckerling – East Timor president Xanana Gusmao warned Asian business leaders yesterday that if people in the poorest countries of the region were left without food, there could be no peace and security.

The famed "warrior-poet" who captured the attention of the world with his heroic fight for the freedom of his country from an often brutal occupation by Indonesia, told delegates at the CEO Forum: "Without full stomachs, there is no security, no democracy, no nothing. People keep telling us we are a great success. But that has been only in one facet and now if people leave us, we will fail."

Since becoming president of one of the poorest countries in the world in April last year, Gusmao has campaigned for a change in the aid programmes conducted by rich nations; debt relief for the most-heavily indebted poor nations; and greater market access for producers in poor countries.

Sharing a panel yesterday with former regional leaders Bob Hawke and Fidel Ramos, Gusmao repeated his appeal for debt relief and private sector aid.

Delegates attending the conference spoke of "Asian growth", Gusmao said, but the experience of some small countries in the region was different.

"How can we survive as a nation? We have tourism. I must say that expats believe we are the best in the world for scuba diving. At least we are the best in something," he said.

But having won independence, East Timor now faced far greater challenges, Gusmao said. He warned that without private sector trust and investment, the country would fail.