Germany's Schroeder arrives for two-day state visit<\/p>\n
Agencies, Jakarta\/Singapore<\/p>\n
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder arrived here on Tuesday
\nevening for a two-day state visit, the first by a German leader
\nsince the downfall of former dictator Soeharto in 1998.<\/p>\n
The Chancellor was greeted by Minister of Foreign Affairs
\nHassan Wirayuda at Halim Perdanakusumah airport.<\/p>\n
Hassan earlier said Indonesia viewed the visit as a big step
\nforward in reviving stagnant relations between the two countries
\nsince the end of former president B.J. Habibie's tenure in 1999.<\/p>\n
Schroeder's entourage includes Minister of Economy Wolfgang
\nClement and Asia-Pacific Trade Committee Chairman Heinrich von
\nPierer, who is also the CEO of Germany's giant company Siemens.<\/p>\n
The last visit made by a German chancellor to Indonesia was in
\n1996 by Helmut Kohl, Schroeder's political opposition.<\/p>\n
Schroeder is scheduled to meet President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri on Wednesday morning at the State Palace. Later in
\nthe day, the two leaders are expected to visit the German Center
\nin Serpong, Banten.<\/p>\n
The two leaders are also slated to witness the signing of
\nseveral memorandums of understanding (MOUs), including on the
\npromotion and reciprocal protection of investment.<\/p>\n
Indonesia also hopes to sign an MOU on the construction and
\nlaunch of a micro-satellite in the near future.<\/p>\n
A German official said trade and investment would dominate
\ndiscussions between the two leaders, along with other topics such
\nas the fight against terrorism, Iraq reconstruction and dialog
\nwith Muslim countries.<\/p>\n
Indonesia remains a major market for German ships, while
\nGerman firms in the country are generally involved in the energy,
\nmining and telecommunications sectors.<\/p>\n
The annual trade volume between the two countries stands at
\naround 3.7 billion euros, while direct investment by German firms
\nreaches 440 million euros.<\/p>\n
Jakarta is the third leg of Schroeder's Southeast Asian trip
\nafter Malaysia and Singapore, with Vietnam as the last country to
\nvisit.<\/p>\n
In Singapore, Agence France-Presse reported that the
\nChancellor discussed with Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong the
\npossibility of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the city-
\nstate and the European Union (EU).<\/p>\n
Goh praised Schroeder for defying calls to cancel his Asian
\ntour, saying his visit was \"especially important, given the SARS
\nsituation in Singapore\".<\/p>\n
Of the four Asian nations in Schroeder's tour, Singapore has
\nbeen hit hardest by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),
\nwith 28 dead and 205 infected in this island nation of four
\nmillion. However, both global and local health officials say the
\noutbreak has been coming under control in recent weeks, thanks to
\nthe stringent measures taken by the government.<\/p>\n
Indeed, Schroeder and his delegation -- like all arrivals --
\nwere scanned by a thermal imaging camera after arriving at
\nSingapore's Changi International Airport. None had a fever.<\/p>\n
Schroeder said at a press briefing later that the procedure
\nwas \"totally pain-free\".<\/p>\n
\"I still have some memories from back home in the olden days
\nwhen I was in bed having my temperature taken and (that) was a
\nlot less pleasant,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The German leader and his delegation, which was reduced from
\n120 to 30 because of SARS fears, were screened again at Istana
\nPlace, where Schroeder held talks with Goh and Senior Minister
\nLee Kuan Yew.<\/p>\n
Schroeder said the progress of a free trade deal between the
\nEU and Singapore would depend on a series of multilateral trade
\ntalks launched by the World Trade Organization in Doha, Qatar,
\nwhich have a deadline of Jan. 1, 2005.<\/p>\n
\"We are banking on Doha to come up with a result,\" Schroeder
\nsaid. \"At the back of our minds, we are thinking of alternatives,
\nbut as Europeans, we would ideally like to see results out of the
\nDoha process.\"<\/p>",
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