President Arroyo arrives here today

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrives here today for a two-day state visit aimed at boosting bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries.

Philippines Embassy Press Officer Rowena Sera told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that Arroyo would arrive at the Halim Perdanakusuma airport at 09:30 local time and proceed immediately to the Presidential Palace to meet the Indonesian president.

Rowena said Arroyo was also scheduled to meet with leaders of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and Indonesia's Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Megawati and Arroyo will hold a one-on-one meeting today and later witness the signing of several bilateral accords, Agence France-Presse reported, quoting a Philippines presidential palace source.

Her visit is in response to an invitation extended by Soekarnoputri when she visited Manila in August.

Among the key issues to be discussed is arms smuggling, which Megawati raised during her visit to Manila and is a problem shared by both countries.

"When I go to Indonesia, I hope to be able to describe to President Megawati what our defense establishment is doing with regard to the smuggling of small arms," Arroyo said as quoted by AFP.

A senior adviser to Arroyo in August said officials were checking on reports that Muslim Abu Sayyaf separatist rebels in the southern Philippines were smuggling arms to Indonesian separatists in Aceh.

Arroyo is also expected to meet with leaders of Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly, led by Amien Rais.

Before leaving on Tuesday, Arroyo will also meet with Indonesian business leaders and attend a forum on opportunities in the eastern Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) sub-region, which includes both countries, as well as meeting with the local Filipino community here.

Arroyo was expected back in Manila late Tuesday afternoon, the presidential palace said.