Newly elected Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid said in Bangkok on November 7 that he hoped Indonesia and East Timor could establish "brotherly" relations.

Wahid made the remark during a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai at the Thai Government House on Sunday evening.

According to Thai Government Spokesman Akapol Sorasuchart, Wahid also hoped that after independence East Timor could gain membership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which now groups all the 10 countries in the southeast Asian region.

The Indonesian president spoke highly of the multinational peacekeeping force in East Timor, calling it a "good friend" of the Indonesian people.

He also thanked the Thai government and military for their roles in the peacekeeping mission in East Timor.

Thailand has dispatched some 1,500 troops to East Timor as part of the multinational force.

Wahid expressed the hope that Thailand and other ASEAN countries will continue to play their part in the next phase of the peacekeeping mission in the territory.

As for the next phase of the mission, The Thai prime minister said Indonesia should play a role.

Wahid said Indonesia is willing to do so so long as the United Nations agrees.

Wahid's visit, his first working visit to the kingdom as a guest of the Thai government, is part of a traditional tour of fellow ASEAN countries following the Indonesian president's swearing-in last month.

He arrived in Bangkok from Myanmar on Sunday evening and will leave for Laos on Monday.