New Zealand PM to visit Indonesia

New Zealand PM to visit Indonesia

JAKARTA: New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is scheduled
to arrive on Sunday for a two-day visit to Indonesia, the New
Zealand Embassy said in a press release on Wednesday.

In her first trip here, Clark will hold talks with President
Megawati Soekarnoputri on a range of questions, including people-
smuggling and terrorism.

The summit follows a meeting between the two woman leaders in
Shanghai, China, where they attended the Asia-Pacific Economic
Corporation (APEC) summit last October.

"Developments in Indonesia can affect the stability of our
region. My visit will provide an opportunity to consolidate New
Zealand's bilateral links with Indonesia and to develop a closer
working relationship with Jakarta on a range of questions,
including people-smuggling and terrorism," Clark said as quoted
in the media release.

During her visit, Clark will also meet Muslim leaders and non-
governmental groups to see an update on how the Indonesian
government is progressing with its reform goals in the economic,
governance and human rights area. -- JP