Megawati expedites visit to China

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has moved forward her official visit to China by one day due to the change of schedule from Chinese President Zhiang Jemin, Indonesian Ambassador to China A.A. Kustia said on Monday.

Megawati was initially scheduled to leave for Beijing on March 25, as part of a 10-day overseas trip which will also take her to North Korea, South Korea and India.

"The President has agreed to depart for Beijing on March 24 and will immediately hold a meeting (with Zhiang) upon arrival," Kustia told journalists after meeting the President.

This will be Megawati's first overseas trip this year. Last year she made four visits abroad, including to nine member countries of ASEAN, Japan and the United States, and to Bandar Seri Begawan and Shanghai to attend the ASEAN summit and the APEC summit respectively.

Kustia further said that Megawati would visit several provinces of China such as Hunan and Sechuan to observe development in agriculture and industry in the world's most populous country.

The President will also witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding at the opening of Indonesian consulates in Guang Zhou and Shanghai. She is also slated to speak with Chinese businesspeople.

"This is an official visit, the invitation for which was delivered by the Chinese government dating back to when Ibu Megawati was the vice president," Kustia remarked.

The President will continue her journey to Pyongyang on March 28 for a two-day visit, before flying to Seoul for a three-day trip.

Megawati's trip will end in India, where she will stay for four days, beginning April 1. The President is scheduled to fly home on April 5.