Algerian President begins historic visit to RI<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika arrived here on Sunday
\nfor a four-day state visit, the first ever made by an Algerian
\npresident to the country.<\/p>\n
Bouteflika arrived at the Halim Perdanakusumah airport Sunday
\nevening and is scheduled to hold a meeting with his Indonesian
\ncounterpart President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Monday.<\/p>\n
The state visit is made in response to Megawati's visit to the
\nAfrican country in September last year. A number of trade deals
\nand economic cooperations between the two countries are expected
\nto be signed during Bouteflika's visit.<\/p>\n
\"To reinforce and further develop bilateral relations is also
\nreflected in the presence of 40 businessmen traveling with the
\nPresident to explore possibilities of expanding trade exchange,\"
\na press statement from the Algerian embassy said.<\/p>\n
The two heads of state are also scheduled to witness the
\nsigning of memorandum of understandings on cooperation with small
\nand medium enterprises, fisheries, tourism, and trade.<\/p>\n
During Megawati's visit to Algeria in September 2002, the two
\ncountries agreed to avoid double taxation and ensure the
\nprotection and guarantee of investments.<\/p>\n
Also during the visit, Megawati witnessed the signing of a
\ncontract between Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina
\nwith Algeria's Sonatrach.<\/p>\n
Bouteflika's visit is made ahead of the Organization of
\nIslamic Conference (OIC) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 16.
\nMegawati is also scheduled to attend the summit.<\/p>\n
\"The visit is to provide excellent opportunities for the two
\nPresidents to exchange views on the challenges facing Muslim
\ncountries and other issues of common concern,\" the statement
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Bouteflika was elected president in 1999 at the peak of his
\nlong and often rocky political career.<\/p>\n
He became widely known when he was appointed minister of
\nyouth, sports and tourism in the first independent government of
\nAlgeria in 1962, when he was just 25 years old.<\/p>\n
The Algerian President is also slated to hold meetings with
\nother Indonesian high-ranking officials, such as the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) speaker Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
Bilateral talks will be held on Monday, and the two Presidents
\nwill hold a joint press conference afterward. Megawati will also
\nhost a state dinner for the visiting president at the State
\nPalace.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Bouteflika will visit several industrial areas
\nsuch as Cilegon and Jababeka industrial estate in West Java
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
He is also scheduled to visit the Bogor Presidential Palace
\nwith Megawati on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Before heading for Kuala Lumpur, Bouteflika will visit the
\nancient town of Yogyakarta on Wednesday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/algerian-president-begins-historic-visit-to-ri-1447893297",
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