Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has given his strongest indication yet that Australian troops will remain in East Timor until 2009.

During his first visit to the fledgling nation as prime minister, Rudd was asked by East Timor's President Jose Ramos Horta to continue Australia's military commitment until the end of next year. Ramos Horta also wants a United Nations security force to stay on until 2011.

"I have reiterated with the prime minister that we believe the ISF (International Security Force) should stay until the end of 2008 at least," Ramos Horta told reporters.

"We will review it along the way together with the UN and with Australia... we should not repeat the mistakes of the past in a hasty withdrawal."

While Rudd did not specify exact time frames or troop numbers, he said Australia was committed to remaining in the country for as long as needed.

"Australian troops are here at the invitation of the government of Timor Leste," he said. "I noted carefully what the president had to say this morning about the needs of 2008 and we have no objection to that subject to the rolling review, which our two governments have always engaged in on these two matters."

Before leaving climate change talks in Bali yesterday, Rudd said he'd been critical of Australia having withdrawn its troops too early in the past. About 800 troops have been in the troubled former Indonesian province since early this year after violence erupted in the build-up to the April 2007 presidential elections.

"We look forward to the day when Timor Leste assumes its own responsibility in relation to security matters," Rudd said.

"I agree with Jose when he said these things need to be progressed in a calm and methodical way to ensure the security and stability of the people of Timor Leste."

Rudd extended an invitation to visit Australia to both Ramos Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, who hugged Rudd during a warm reception with his Australian wife Kirsty Sword Gusmao on the tarmac at Dili Airport earlier in the day.

Rudd then had lunch with Australian troops, in same mess hall in which former prime minister John Howard spent his 68th birthday in July this year.

"Australia is proud of what you are doing," Rudd told the soldiers. "I wish you a very, very happy Christmas. I am sure that all your tents will be air-conditioned for the festive season."

Rudd also suggested to troops that their work was not over yet. "The mission is not completed, we've got a lot of work left to do in 2008 and it will depend on your continuing professionalism and that of the ADF."

Rudd then departed for Darwin where he will meet with indigenous leaders tomorrow to talk about the federal government's intervention in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities.