Bangladesh PM starts state visit
Bangladesh PM starts state visit
JAKARTA (JP): Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
arrived here yesterday for a four-day state visit to speed up the
slow economic cooperation between the two countries.
President Soeharto greeted Hasina in a state reception at
Merdeka Palace. They held a brief discussion when she paid a
courtesy call on him soon after her arrival yesterday.
"The two leaders will use this opportunity to exchange
information on their respective domestic development," said
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono after accompanying Soeharto in
the meeting.
The President emphasized the importance of South-South
cooperation at a banquet he hosted in honor of Hasina and her
entourage at the State Palace last night.
"We have similarities, where the majority of our people are
Moslems, and our nations are working to improve our welfare,"
Soeharto said in his address.
The prime minister's entourage includes State Minister for
Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury and the chairman of the
Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Yousuf Abdullah
Harun.
This morning the two leaders will hold bilateral talks. After
the talks Alatas and Chowdhury will sign an Air Service
Agreement.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, Indonesia's
exports to Bangladesh reached US$117 million in 1996, mostly in
plastic and rubber products, food, paper, earthenware and
textiles. Indonesia's imports were less than $10 million, mostly
in jute and leather.
During the talks the two leaders are also expected to discuss
regional and international issues, and touch on the second summit
of eight developing countries (D-8) to be hosted by Dhaka next
year. The first summit was held in Istanbul in June this year.
The D-8 group comprises predominantly Moslem countries
including Indonesia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan,
Iran, Egypt and Nigeria.
Hasina will visit state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT IPTN in
Bandung on Saturday before leaving for Bali, where she will spend
two nights. (prb)