"The training and education of human resources is a necessity and a priority across all sectors of governance and I know that our development partners are aware of this", said Xanana Gusmão.

The Head of Government was speaking at the closing session of a two-day meeting with international partners to discuss the cooperation priorities of the Timorese authorities for the next five years.

"We know that people are the real engine of development, whether in increasing agricultural productivity, promoting tourism, or for the growth of entrepreneurship, or in adopting best practices and policies in the area of infrastructure to the provision of social services, or in the modernization of public institutions", said Xanana Gusmão.

For the leader of the Timorese Government, people are the country's "greatest wealth", the "greatest potential" and the "hope for a sustainable future".

"Our country also needs another type of major investment in addition to public-private partnerships, namely, it needs partnerships for people", he stressed.

According to the Timorese leader, health and education will have "total priority" through the improvement of essential public services.

"We approved the Integrated Health Plan, integrating into a single plan the various programs for the health area, to provide primary, secondary and tertiary health care, in a coordinated and aggregated manner, throughout the national territory", he said.

Xanana Gusmão also said that mechanisms will be created for "universal health care coverage".

Regarding the education sector, the Prime Minister said that the Government will continue to work for a "quality education for all children and young people", highlighting the recent evaluation of teachers, the creation of a Candidate Exchange and the draft proposal for the Higher Education Framework Law.

Xanana Gusmão said that the Government also intends to "accelerate strategic policies" for decentralization, promote the blue economy and renewable energy projects, develop the Oecussi enclave, and install the submarine fiber optic cable".

"This is a crucial infrastructure that will allow the private sector to be leveraged and facilitate the socio-economic development of the population", stressed the Timorese Prime Minister.

"The support of development partners cannot fail to take into account the specific challenges and objectives defined by each country. Only in this way can support, in technical assistance and other possible modalities, be effective and positive, with concrete results", concluded Xanana Gusmão.

Read Also: Xanana Gusmão congratulates new Indonesian leader. Borders are a "priority" (Portuguese version)