Linda Mottram, Canberra

East Timor's President Jose Ramos Horta is using a state visit to Australia to fight against plans to process gas from the Timor Sea on a floating platform, and not via a pipeline in East Timor.

Dr Ramos Horta's engagements include talks with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd – where he says he will also raise concerns about the effectiveness of Australia's development assistance.

The President says East Timor's future could be secured through a domestic gas processing industry. But he is suggesting independent specialists be called in to decide the issue.

Economic

"Obviously, I'm not entirely objective, being president of my country," he said in Canberra. "I believe the pipeline option to Timor Leste makes more economic, commercial sense."

Dr Ramos Horta was moving to calm the tone of a debate that has escalated after the Greater Sunrise consortium rejected the pipeline and announced a floating processing facility was the most economic option.

But he says a pipeline and processing industry in East Timor holds the best hope for sustainable prosperity for his country.

"If I were the Prime Minister of Australia and if I were the top oil executives and others sitting in Canberra I would look at the region as a whole. I wouldn't look only at my narrow economic, commercial interests."

The President will deliver his first major speech in Australia for two years on the challenges and prospects for democracy in his still fledgling country.

Also among his engagements during a four-day state visit will be the inauguration of a new embassy for his country in Canberra and a private discussion with the Australian Parliament's foreign affairs, defence and trade committee.