Keating discusses APEC preparations with Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating yesterday had a telephone conversation with President Soeharto about the preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Bogor in November.

Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono told reporters yesterday that the two leaders exchanged ideas on the substance of what they expected to happen at the Bogor meeting.

"This reflects the strong commitment of the two leaders that the meeting will be fruitful for the future of the Asia-Pacific countries," Moerdiono said.

He added that he believed other APEC leaders have similar expectations about the meeting in Bogor, scheduled for Nov. 15.

President Soeharto, as the chairman of the forum, this week is scheduled to meet with the chairman of the APEC's Eminent Persons Group C, Fred Bergsten, who will present the group's second report.

The report, drafted during a policy session in Tokyo in July, contains a blueprint for the implementation of proposals introduced during last year's inaugural APEC Leaders Meeting on Blake Island, Seattle.

Moerdiono said that during yesterday's 38-minute chat, Keating also inquired about Soeharto's health, to which the latter responded that he felt fine.

The minister also confirmed that South African President Nelson Mandela will be visiting Indonesia on Friday, Sept. 2 in his capacity as leader of the African National Congress (ANC). (emb)