French envoy submits credentials

French envoy submits credentials

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday thanked the French government for continually supporting Indonesia's development program, as shown in a number of mutually beneficial projects between the two countries.

Soeharto also expressed hopes that cooperation between the two countries in tackling global issues would expand even wider, now that France and Indonesia currently hold some important positions in the international fora.

Soeharto made the remarks when accepting the letter of credence from the new French ambassador to Indonesia, Thierry Martin De Beauce who replaced Dominique Girard.

France and Indonesia are currently serving in the United Nations Security Council. France is also the current chair of the European Union which has decided to establish ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- of which Indonesia is a member -- as the "nucleus" of its policies toward Asia.

"The increasing trade and investment and cooperation in research, transfer of technology and finance between France and Indonesia have benefited both countries," Soeharto said.

"We thank the French government for providing training programs for our experts and technicians in the fields of aeronautics, science and technology, corporate management, medicines, oceanography and social sciences," he said. (swe)