No China influence in Timor: Ramos Horta

Dr. Jose Ramos Horta

EAST Timor's former president Jose Ramos-Horta has dismissed what he says are Australian suggestions that his country is growing closer to China.

David Benluk, AAP

Delivering a lecture at the University of Tasmania, Dr Ramos-Horta said East Timor had snubbed the offer of cheap loans from China, joking that the emerging superpower had more influence over Australia.

"In Africa everybody rushes in to have cheap loans with China ... we are making ourselves a bit too difficult to get," he said.

"So it's not what academics at the ANU (Australian National University) suggest, (that) it's growing Chinese influence."

The Nobel Laureate said the only Chinese contribution to his country had been help with the construction of three government buildings - the defence and foreign ministries and the presidential office.

"Does that make a country under the influence of China?" he asked.

"How about Australia? They sell almost everything to China.

"ANU is not worried about that.

"They're worried about three buildings that China put up in Timor-Leste."

But Dr Ramos-Horta said his country had an excellent relationship with the Asian giant.

"I've met Timorese in China speaking Mandarin better than Kevin Rudd," he joked.

The former foreign minister, prime minister and president, who survived an assassination attempt in 2008, said the country's "new generation" government under national hero Xanana Gusmao had no choice but to succeed.

He said improvements in education, health and the reduction of poverty were vital.

"He has to deliver," Dr Ramos-Horta said.

"Our people have been waiting for far too long for simple clean water, to have a few electric bulbs at home to be able to study at night.

"Will he be able to? I believe so, as long as the cabinet is absolutely loyal to him and as long as our development partners redirect their attention, energy and resources to where it can make a difference."