Susilo in Manila to boost trade, antiterror ties
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived in Manila on Monday for a three-day official visit in an effort to boost economic ties and also cooperation in the war against terrorism.
Amid light drizzle, the Garuda Indonesia aircraft carrying Susilo arrived at the airport shortly after 4 p.m., the Asian News Network reported.
Susilo arrived with First Lady Ani Bambang Yudhoyono and a delegation of government officials and were accorded planeside honors. The government officials include Coordinating Minister for Security and Political Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Police Chief Da'i Bachtiar and chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Syamsir Siregar.
They were met by Philippine Vice President Noli de Castro, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, and Foreign Affairs chief of protocol Ambassador Jose Zaide, as well as a small delegation from the Indonesian community led by young children who waved Indonesia's red and white flag.
Susilo's trip to Manila is part of his introductory Southeast Asian tour after winning the presidential elections in October last year.
Meanwhile, Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Susilo would hold talks with Philippine President Gloria Maccapagal Arroyo, and the two were expected to make a joint statement on ways to step up relations between the two nations.
"Improving security and economic relations are going to be on top of the agenda for the meeting. Other agenda items that will be touched on include the status of Indonesian citizens who live in the Philippines," he said.
Dino added that discussions would also include strengthening border patrols to prevent passage by illegal migrants and suspected Islamic militants, as well as ways to prevent kidnappings of Indonesian sailors near Philippine waters.
Indonesian and Philippine authorities have expressed concern over the presence of Indonesian militants in the southern Philippines, where they are reportedly organizing terrorist training with local Muslim insurgents.
President Susilo will also take the opportunity during the visit to express his gratitude to the Philippine government for its recent success in freeing two Indonesian sailors, kidnapped by a rebel group late in March. The two seamen returned home safely on Saturday. However, one sailor remains in captivity.
The President is scheduled to head home on Wednesday, stopping by in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, to attend a gathering of all governors from Kalimantan to discuss ways of fighting illegal logging that has severely damaged the country's forests.