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)