Welcome Herr Schroeder<\/p>\n
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder arrives in Indonesia
\ntonight (Tuesday) as part of his four-nation tour of Southeast
\nAsian countries to boost political and trade ties with the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
His visit to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam, four
\nof the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
\n(ASEAN), reinforces Germany's "Concept on Asia" policy which aims
\nat forging closer ties in all spheres with Asia, particularly
\nASEAN. It also hints that Germany is prepared to play a greater
\nrole in Asia as well as face the challenge of greater
\ninternational responsibility following its strained relations
\nwith fellow European Union members and, especially the United
\nStates, as a result of differences over the U.S.-led war in Iraq.<\/p>\n
But the importance of Schroeder's visit to Jakarta, the first
\never made by a German leader following the fall of Soeharto's
\nauthoritarian government in 1998, is that he comes at a time when
\na more democratic Indonesia under President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri is in dire need of foreign investment to quicken
\nthe country's sluggish economic recovery as well as to gain
\nGermany's technological assistance so that Indonesia can keep
\nabreast of the rapid development in information technology and
\nglobal changes.<\/p>\n
Germany has great potential in both areas, and although a
\nlarge number of German companies have operated in Indonesia --
\nsuch as Siemens and Reimelt in helping build the Indonesian
\ntelecommunications network and food processing industry, not to
\nmention the assembly plants of luxury cars like Mercedes Benz and
\nBMW -- there are still many more business opportunities and
\nfields of cooperation that the two countries could undertake.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government and businesspeople, understandably,
\nshould not miss the opportunity to convince their counterparts
\nfrom Germany about the possible but realistic ventures that could
\nbenefit both sides and create more job openings here in order to
\nimprove the prosperity of the people.<\/p>\n
Besides, issues such as growing threats of terrorism in the
\nregion and increasing international drug and human trafficking
\ncan also be added to the list of issues needing bilateral
\ncooperation.<\/p>\n
Indonesians have long known Germany and its quality products
\nand millions of them have also praised Chancellor Schroeder's
\nwise policy in banning the right-wing anti-immigrant National
\nDemocratic Party in 2000 -- blamed for a spate of racist attacks
\nthen -- his public opposition against the Iraq war, as well as
\nhis tax cut policy and efforts to reduce unemployment in Germany.<\/p>\n
Those measures clearly reflect Schroeder's humanitarian
\nconcerns and they have won not only the hearts of the Indonesian
\npeople, but also millions of others worldwide.<\/p>\n
Herzlich Willkomen Herr Schroeder<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/welcome-herr-schroeder-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }