Susilo in Manila to boost trade, antiterror ties
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.