Megawati's visit to India<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri is in the midst of a 4-nation
\ntour of China, South Korea, North Korea and India.<\/p>\n
Apparently the visit to India has a more personal
\ncharacter rather than anything else for Megawati. It is more
\nappropriate to describe it as a sentimental journey.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian delegation may see for itself the viability of
\nIndia's economy with an annual growth of 10 percent, according to
\nofficials. There have been and still are many hurdles in
\nbilateral relations between Indonesia and India, but trade ties
\nhave grown at a considerable pace.<\/p>\n
Bilateral cooperation in the past included Indian technical
\nassistance in the military field or rather in the training of
\nIndonesian military aircraft pilots by Indian personnel.<\/p>\n
For President Megawati the visit perhaps brings to life a
\nmemory of the past when, as a child, she met with Indian leaders
\nsuch as Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi while
\naccompanying her father the late president Sukarno.<\/p>\n
No two countries are closer in spirit as Indonesia and India.<\/p>\n
The nonaligned movement aimed at creating peace between the
\nwarring East and West at the time, have come among others things
\nfrom their mind. The influence of the Ahimsa movement created by
\nIndia's legendary leader Mahatma Gandhi inspired
\nIndonesian nationalist leaders to fight with courage
\nand vigor against the Dutch colonial rulers.<\/p>\n
The two nations today are facing similar problems of
\nover population and sectarian violence. But
\nIndia has now become an industrial giant in its own right
\nwith export mainly to Middle Eastern and African
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is still struggling to keep its head above
\nthe economic devastation of the recent past which includes a
\nheavy foreign debt burden. Perhaps Indonesia can learn from
\nIndia about coping with the correct way to finance a state
\nbudget without relying on foreign aid. Also, Indonesians can
\nlearn from Indian leaders that it is possible to live a modest
\nlife style as opposed to luxurious one so many here seem to
\nprefer. Surely, there is some degree of corruption in India, too,
\nbut the level is tolerable compared to conditions in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawatis-visit-to-india-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }