Algerian President begins historic visit to RI
Algerian President begins historic visit to RI
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika arrived here on Sunday
for a four-day state visit, the first ever made by an Algerian
president to the country.
Bouteflika arrived at the Halim Perdanakusumah airport Sunday
evening and is scheduled to hold a meeting with his Indonesian
counterpart President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Monday.
The state visit is made in response to Megawati's visit to the
African country in September last year. A number of trade deals
and economic cooperations between the two countries are expected
to be signed during Bouteflika's visit.
"To reinforce and further develop bilateral relations is also
reflected in the presence of 40 businessmen traveling with the
President to explore possibilities of expanding trade exchange,"
a press statement from the Algerian embassy said.
The two heads of state are also scheduled to witness the
signing of memorandum of understandings on cooperation with small
and medium enterprises, fisheries, tourism, and trade.
During Megawati's visit to Algeria in September 2002, the two
countries agreed to avoid double taxation and ensure the
protection and guarantee of investments.
Also during the visit, Megawati witnessed the signing of a
contract between Indonesia's state-owned oil company Pertamina
with Algeria's Sonatrach.
Bouteflika's visit is made ahead of the Organization of
Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 16.
Megawati is also scheduled to attend the summit.
"The visit is to provide excellent opportunities for the two
Presidents to exchange views on the challenges facing Muslim
countries and other issues of common concern," the statement
said.
Bouteflika was elected president in 1999 at the peak of his
long and often rocky political career.
He became widely known when he was appointed minister of
youth, sports and tourism in the first independent government of
Algeria in 1962, when he was just 25 years old.
The Algerian President is also slated to hold meetings with
other Indonesian high-ranking officials, such as the House of
Representatives (DPR) speaker Akbar Tandjung.
Bilateral talks will be held on Monday, and the two Presidents
will hold a joint press conference afterward. Megawati will also
host a state dinner for the visiting president at the State
Palace.
On Tuesday, Bouteflika will visit several industrial areas
such as Cilegon and Jababeka industrial estate in West Java
province.
He is also scheduled to visit the Bogor Presidential Palace
with Megawati on Tuesday.
Before heading for Kuala Lumpur, Bouteflika will visit the
ancient town of Yogyakarta on Wednesday.