Australian PM arrives for talks

Australian PM arrives for talks

JAKARTA (JP): Australian Prime Minister John Howard will
arrive here this afternoon for a two-day visit on his way home
from the Commonwealth summit in Edinburgh, Minister/State
Secretary Moerdiono said yesterday.

Howard will meet President Soeharto tomorrow to discuss
bilateral and regional issues such as the ongoing Southeast Asian
currency crisis.

"This visit, initiated by the Australian side, is mainly meant
as an opportunity for exchanges of views between the two leaders
to boost mutual understanding between the two governments,"
Moerdiono said.

This will be Howard's second visit to Jakarta.

His first was in September last year just a few months after
replacing Paul Keating as prime minister.

Soeharto openly expressed his happiness at that time that
Howard had chosen to come to Jakarta on his first overseas trip
as Australia's leader.

"The two leaders will also discuss in a broad sense the
monetary development in the region," Moerdiono said.

Soeharto and Howard will also discuss the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Canada next month.

Members of APEC include Indonesia, the United States
Singapore, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Canada, Thailand, China and
South Korea.

After meeting with Soeharto, Howard is due to meet Minister of
Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and other senior officials.

Howard and his entourage will leave for Australia tomorrow
evening. (prb)