A former president of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, has said he hopes Chinese companies will make a greater contribution to the development of the economy of his country, Xinhua reports.

The Chinese government-run news agency quotes Mr Ramos-Horta as remarking in an interview on how Chinese companies have invested in big infrastructure projects in Timor-Leste in recent years.

Mr Ramos-Horta said the people of Timor-Leste had high hopes that their economy would develop with Chinese help.

He said there was great potential for the development of education, farming and tourism in Timor-Leste, which China had supported.

Mr Ramos-Horta’s son is among the Timor-Leste people educated in China, and his grandson hopes to join them, Xinhua quotes the ex-president as saying.