Algerian President starts historic visit to RI
Algerian President starts 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 Perdanakusuma Airport on
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 cooperation 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 in 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 investment.
Also during the visit, Megawati witnessed the signing of
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 opportunity for the two
Presidents to exchange views on the challenges facing Muslim
countries and other issues of common concerns," the statement
said.
Bouteflika was elected president in 1999 as the peak of his
long and rocky political career.
He made himself known after he was appointed minister of
youth, sports and tourism back in 1962 in the first independent
government of Algeria 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
Representative (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung.
Bilateral talks will be held on Monday, and the two Presidents
will hold joint press conference afterwards. 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 industrial areas in Banten province and Jababeka
industrial estates in West Java province.
He is also slated to visit Bogor Presidential Palace with
Megawati on Tuesday.
Before heading for Kuala Lumpur, Bouteflika will visit the
ancient town of Yogyakarta on Wednesday.