East Timor will choose partners for the Greater Sunrise offshore natural gas project that bring benefits to the Southeast Asian island nation, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao told Nikkei, signaling that it will not rule out participation by Chinese companies. 

“When we talk about business, we don’t say we prefer this or that,” said Gusmao, adding that his government would look at cost and benefits.

East Timor seeks to export liquefied natural gas from a field that is being developed with Australia, but the project has stalled. The possibility of Chinese participation in building facilities such as a plant and pipelines has raised alarms among Japan, U.S. and Australian policymakers. 

Gusmao met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in China in September and agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” Energy was among the areas of cooperation the countries agreed on. 

A memorandum of understanding signed with China shows how “we view the world” in general, Gusmao said. The document is not meant to signal that “the door is only open to China and not to other countries,” he added. 

China is deeply involved in infrastructure development in East Timor as part of the Belt and Road cooperation. Gusmao said even with long-term loans under Japan’s official development assistance, his government often ends up awarding contracts to cost-competitive Chinese companies.

“This is because of the decision process,” Gusmao said, dismissing the view that the country is becoming dependent on China. 

Calling East Timor a “very young, underdeveloped country,” Gusmao said the country is working to build an international presence through the so-called G7 plus framework that includes 20 countries. 

On Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, Gusmao stressed the need for dialogue to reach a resolution.

“Leaders need to think about humanity” instead of looking out for their own interests, he said.

Gusmao said Japan “played a very important role” for East Timor’s independence from Indonesia in 2002 by giving the people “the confidence and motivation” to continue to resist. 

“We believe that the Japanese government will not put an end to that cooperative friendship,” he added.

Gusmao is visiting Tokyo for a summit marking 50 years of ties between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. A former East Timor independence fighter, Gusmao served as the country’s first president after independence. This his second stint as prime minister.