JAKARTA, May 21 (NNN-ANTARA) – Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Jose Ramos-Horta, was inaugurated and sworn in yesterday, as the president of Timor Leste, for the period of 2022 to 2027, making it the second time for him to lead Southeast Asia’s youngest nation.
Ramos-Horta, 72, is also known as one of Timor Leste’s founding fathers. His inauguration came, on the celebration of Timor Leste’s Independence Day, which fell yesterday (May 20).
Ramos-Horta was the president of Timor Leste from 2007 to 2012. He also served as the prime minister from 2006 to 2007. His presidential candidacy was endorsed by the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) Party, and received support from Xanana Gusmao, the country’s first president and current leader of the CNRT Party.
In his speech when taking the oath, he said, he would put bilateral relationships with neighbouring Indonesia and Australia, as one of the top priorities.
He also conveyed his intention to strengthen and expand relations and trade cooperation with China in various sectors, including new technologies, renewable energy and digitalisation.
Ramos-Horta also expressed his expectation that Timor Leste could become the 11th ASEAN member state, during Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN next year.– NNN-ANTARA
