Timor-Leste Ambassador to Australia Abel Guterres has said his government is willing to tap China for money to develop a base to process natural gas in the south of Timor-Leste, the Australian Financial Review reports.

The newspaper quotes Mr Guterres as saying Timor-Leste is also looking for investment from Australia, the United States, Japan and South Korea.

Mr Guterres voiced confidence in the prospects for the development of the Sunrise project, despite the reluctance of operator of the offshore gas field Woodside Petroleum Ltd of Australia to invest.

He said the project would spawn other businesses in the fields of services, telecommunications, agriculture, fisheries and tourism.

“Once you kick-start one, it creates the precedent and confidence for other investors to follow and invest in other sectors,” the Australian Financial Review quotes the ambassador as saying.