Megawati to visit U.S. and Japan

JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri will embark on her second overseas trip, this time to the U.S., from Sept. 19 to Sept. 25, at the invitation of President George W. Bush.

On her way back home, she will stop off in Japan on Sept. 26 to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Megawati's first trip after she became president on July 23 was to the nine ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries from Aug. 21 to Aug. 28.

In her week-long U.S. trip, Megawati is scheduled to meet Bush and top officials including former foreign minister Henry Kissinger. She is also scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Sept. 24.

Antara reported from New York on Saturday that a number of world leaders would seek to meet with Megawati, including South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also invited Megawati for lunch and talks at the UN headquarters in New York.

Megawati announced her planned visit to the U.S. when she presented the 2002 budget bill to the House of Representatives on Friday.

"The need to improve our image and restore international trust in Indonesia were the main reasons for my visit to the ASEAN member countries and are also the reasons for my visit to the U.S. this month," the President said.

Megawati will meet with President Bush on Sept. 19 and address the UN on Sept. 24.

"All of these trips are part of our free and active foreign policy to restore our country's image and boost international support, especially from donor countries and investors," she said.

Antara also reported that Megawati will address a meeting of International Oil Forum officials in Houston, Texas. Houston is the home of several U.S. multinational oil and gas companies which operate in many countries, including Indonesia. (dja)