NZ premier Clark arrives to boost ties

NZ premier Clark arrives to boost ties

Agence France-Presse, Jakarta

New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark arrived in Indonesia Sunday for a three-day official visit to forge closer bilateral ties.

Clark was met at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri will officially welcome her Monday at a ceremony at the Merdeka Palace.

Clark said in a statement last week to announce her visit that it was important for her country to engage closely with Indonesia.

"Indonesia's significance in the Asia-Pacific region means that it is in New Zealand's interests to engage closely with Jakarta on issues of common concern," she said.

The Indonesian foreign ministry has said Clark's visit was a follow up to a meeting between her and Megawati at the summit of leaders of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries in Shanghai in October.

Clark and Megawati are scheduled to hold talks Monday at which they are expected to discuss issues of common concern, including illegal immigrants and terrorism, the foreign ministry said.

Clark is also due to meet Vice President Hamzah Haz and the speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, Amien Rais.

She was also expected to meet chief editors of Indonesian mass media, Muslim leaders and members of the private Partnership for Good Governance, made up of experts on governance.