NZ premier Clark arrives to boost ties<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Jakarta<\/p>\n
New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark arrived in Indonesia
\nSunday for a three-day official visit to forge closer bilateral
\nties.<\/p>\n
Clark was met at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International
\nAirport by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri will officially welcome her
\nMonday at a ceremony at the Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Clark said in a statement last week to announce her visit that
\nit was important for her country to engage closely with
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's significance in the Asia-Pacific region means
\nthat it is in New Zealand's interests to engage closely with
\nJakarta on issues of common concern,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian foreign ministry has said Clark's visit was a
\nfollow up to a meeting between her and Megawati at the summit of
\nleaders of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries in
\nShanghai in October.<\/p>\n
Clark and Megawati are scheduled to hold talks Monday at which
\nthey are expected to discuss issues of common concern, including
\nillegal immigrants and terrorism, the foreign ministry said.<\/p>\n
Clark is also due to meet Vice President Hamzah Haz and the
\nspeaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, Amien Rais.<\/p>\n
She was also expected to meet chief editors of Indonesian mass
\nmedia, Muslim leaders and members of the private Partnership for
\nGood Governance, made up of experts on governance.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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