RIYADH, 25 April 2006 — Saudi Arabia and Indonesia will set out a broad new vision of bilateral ties when Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrives here today with a contingent of 103 delegates, including 11 ministers, 20 journalists and a number of high-profile businessmen.
According to Indonesian Embassy spokesperson Arif Suyoko, the president’s 10-day visit to the region will also take him to Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. The Indonesian delegation will be in Saudi Arabia until Saturday. The president will also perform Umrah in Makkah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
Suyoko said that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah would hold talks with Yudhoyono on a whole range of bilateral, regional and international issues here on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, Energy Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Labor Minister Erman Suparno will accompany the president.
Suyoko said that Yudhoyono would meet Saudi businessmen at the Council of Saudi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and would attend a lunch hosted by Crown Prince Sultan during his stay in Riyadh.
“Riyadh and Jakarta have steadily developed a very cordial and warm relationship based on shared political, economic and social interests,” said Suyoko.
Yudhoyono will visit the Riyadh-based Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University tomorrow and will also attend a community meeting at the Indonesian Embassy.
The visit of President Yudhoyono is also significant keeping in view the fact that the Kingdom and Indonesia have intensified moves to promote bilateral relations.
The two countries share common approaches on the whole range of regional and international issues, while they also coordinate their positions as members of the UN, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Yudhoyono has expressed his wish to meet Palestinian leaders during his visit to the region, most likely in Jordan. Jakarta has consistently supported the Palestinian struggle for an independent, sovereign state.
