Rumanian president arrives in Indonesia
JAKARTA (JP): Rumanian President Emil Constantinescu and his entourage arrived here yesterday for a three-day state visit to boost economic relations with Indonesia.
Constantinescu and his wife, Nadia, were greeted on the steps of State Palace by President Soeharto, Vice President Try Sutrisno, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono and Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat who is also acting as foreign minister in the absence of Ali Alatas who is abroad.
A state welcoming ceremony including a 21-gun salute greeted Constantinescu, after which he paid a courtesy call on Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.
"The two countries need to know each other better in efforts to boost economic and trade relations," Moerdiono quoted Soeharto as telling his guest.
According to the Rumanian Embassy in Jakarta, the country's exports to Indonesia from January to April this year stood at US$17.7 million, mostly in steel and chemical products, while its imports totaled $5.6 million, mostly cocoa, coffee and tea.
Constantinescu emphasized the importance of his visit here, saying that in the coming century Asia-Pacific countries would play a key role in the world economy together with North America and European Union.
The Rumanian leader's entourage includes Minister of State/Minister of Foreign Affairs Adrian Severin, Minister of State/Minister for Reform Ulm Spineanu and Minister of State/Minister of Finance Mircea Ciumara.
"President Constantinescu described Indonesia as heaven," Moerdiono said.
Today the two heads of state and their relevant ministers will hold bilateral talks on economic and other international issues.
Later this afternoon Constantinescu will attend a luncheon with members of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In the evening, President Soeharto will hold a banquet to honor the Rumanian president.
Tomorrow morning he will leave for Yogyakarta for a brief visit, and fly to the holiday resort island of Bali in the afternoon before flying to Rumania in the evening. (06)