KUALA LUMPUR - China's poverty eradication efforts will serve as a role model for other countries to follow suit, Jose Ramos-Horta, president of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, has told Xinhua.

Speaking following a ceremony to mark the bestowment of an honorary professorship to him by Malaysia's Taylor's University here last week, Ramos-Horta also commended China's progress in food security and the support it has extended to Timor-Leste, particularly in boosting agricultural productivity.

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During his first state visit to China last July, Ramos-Horta said, he appealed for support in improving the island nation's poverty eradication and agricultural efforts.

Noting "We have a strong relationship with China," he said he believes China's expertise can help boost Timor-Leste's efforts in poverty reduction.

"And in a very typical Chinese way of doing things -- fast action, talk and act. (Chinese) engineers for water and infrastructure were mobilized," he said, adding that with Chinese support, the agriculture output has increased and can go up even further.