PM Keating set for two visits to Jakarta

PM Keating set for two visits to Jakarta

CANBERRA (AFP): Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating is
expected to make his third visit to Indonesia in 18 months in
June, in a bid to further boost ties with Jakarta, officials said
yesterday.

The prime minister is due to attend a major trade fair and to
hold talks with Indonesia's President Soeharto, during the two-
day trip, they said.

The Today Indonesia '94 promotion in late June will be the
largest ever held by Canberra overseas, and is a reflection of
its eagerness to strengthen bilateral ties as a priority of
Keating's foreign policy.

Confirmation of the visit, penciled in for June 27-29, is
expected from Jakarta soon, government sources here said.

And Keating is set to go to Jakarta again in late November for
an unprecedented fourth visit in two years since becoming prime
minister, to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
summit.

He has made strengthening ties with Indonesia a priority of
his foreign policy and made his first foreign trip as leader to
Jakarta in early 1992.

Keating held talks with Soeharto during a three-day stopover
on his return from a Commonwealth heads of government meeting in
Cyprus last November.

Indonesian government and business representatives have
reciprocated with a similarly large number of visits to
Australia, Canberra officials said.

The Jakarta trade and cultural promotion was launched here by
Indonesian Ambassador Sabam Siagian in March.

More than 200 Australian firms will take part in a joint trade
fair -- Expanding Horizons - Australia Indonesia into the 21st
Century -- which will "emphasize the practical aspects of
developing joint ventures and managing investments in Indonesia
and Australia".

The month-long promotion, also to be held in Surabaya, will
include sporting events, cultural displays and education
seminars.

But its emphasis will be on trade and exports such as food
packaging and processing, telecommunications and information
technology, transport infrastructure, mining, building and
construction.

Trade Minister Bob McMullan will officially lead the
Australian delegation, while Education Minister Simon Crean and
Industry Minister Peter Cook will also visit Jakarta.