In the meeting with Joao Manuel Antunes, director of the Macao Tourist Office, Horta said that the East Timor government intended to set up a representative office in Macao to substantiate the cooperation and help create more opportunities for the endeavor.

Horta said that the tourism development in East Timor which has just got off the mark can borrow many experiences from Macao through cooperation.

Horta arrived on Friday for a five-day visit. During his stay, he will meet with Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of Macao, and officials in the general secretariats of administration and justice, and social affairs and culture.

The 53 year-old diplomat was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Bishop Carlos Belo, leader of East Timor's majority Catholic population, in 1996.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2003)