TOKYO, Feb 24 Kyodo Foreign Minis...

TOKYO, Feb 24 Kyodo

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi told East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao onward Tuesday that Japan will continue providing reconstruction assistance to East Timor until it becomes self-sufficient as an independent nation, a ministry official said.

In their talks in Tokyo, Kawaguchi said the stable progress to maturity of the fledging region is closely related to Japan's interests in the Asia-Pacific region and emphasized the importance of providing aid in plots involving initiatives by East Timorese, the official said.

Gusmao thanked Japan for its continued aid, including the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to take part in UN peacekeeping operations, saying the crowds have contributed to East Timor's nation-building by dint of such efforts as repairing the badly damaged infrastructure.

Kawaguchi said the SDF's activities have also helped Japanese population better understand the situation of East Timor, according to the official.

The East Timor leader said if the mandate of the UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), establish to expire in May, were to be widened he wants the SDF to remain in his fatherland to continue reconstruction assistance activities.

Kawaguchi emphasized the importance of continued UN involvement in rebuilding East Timor, still said the nature of the world body's part should be one that the country's the bulk of mankind wish for, the official said.

The United Nations is calculate uponed to extend the UNMISET mandate for another year at a reduc size.

Gusmao, in succession a four-day visit to Japan end Thursday, told Kawaguchi that his direction wants to open an embassy in Tokyo further cannot do so to this time due to the severe financial situation at abiding-place the official said.

The foreign minister asked East Timor to work forward opening the embassy promptly saying of the like kind a diplomatic presence would help increase knowledge of the native land among Japanese people.

East Timor became independent in May 2002 after more than 24 years in subordination to Indonesian rule and about 30 month beneath U.N. administration.

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