Australia invites RI to improve relationship

Australia invites RI to improve relationship

JAKARTA (JP): Australia is inviting Indonesia to enhance their
mutual relationship through clear sightedness, sensitivity,
courage, hard work, boldness and openness, as the two countries
are basically different in many ways.

"The job of developing the relationship would not be easy,"
visiting Prime Minister Paul J. Keating said at the opening of a
two-day bilateral trade and investment forum at Jakarta Hilton
Convention Center here yesterday.

The opening of the forum, participated in by almost 1,000
Indonesian and Australian business people, was attended by the
Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Trade and Industry Hartarto
and State Minister of Investment Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo and
Australian Minister for Trade Bob McMullan.

Keating said that Indonesia and Australia are very different
nations with very different societies and cultures and at
different stages of development.

"I want Australia to be much better known in Indonesia for
what it is. A sophisticated, technologically advanced society
with a diverse, open and tolerant people," he said.

He stressed that no country is more important to Australia
than Indonesia.

"It was painful, for example, to learn as part of the research
for the Australia Today promotion that most Indonesians still
think Australia has a racially-based immigration policy," he
said.

According to Keating, Australians should also know Indonesia
for what it is and in all its cultural richness and ethnic
diversity; with all its challenges, achievements and aspirations.

Keating's three day visit, which was part of the giant trade
and cultural promotion for "Australia Today Indonesia '94, ended
yesterday.

Model

He also said that the two countries' relationship could be a
model for cooperation between developing and developed countries,
between countries based on Western structures and values and
those based on Asian models.

Keating said that the relationship would not develop by itself
but should be initiated, with common ground established along
with mutual respect for different histories, cultures and
aspirations.

Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Kadin) Aburizal Bakrie said at a luncheon of the forum that the
two countries should not only establish economic relationship but
should also create better understandings for social and political
stability.

"Because economic ties are related to social values, the
countries should take each other for granted," he told reporters
after the luncheon.

He also said that in economic relationship, Indonesia could
absorb technology and capital from Australia.

Minister Hartarto told the forum that the improved economic
cooperation between the two countries was encouraging.

He said that Indonesia's exports to Australia increased to
US$773.66 million last year from $748.69 million in 1992, while
its imports from Australia slightly decreased to $1.39 billion
from $1.41 billion.

There are 140 Australian investment projects worth $1.5
billion thus far approved by the Investment Coordinating Board
(BKPM) within the last 27 years, making Australia the ninth
biggest foreign investor in Indonesia. (icn)