Yudhoyono meets Abbott in Batam

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived at the Hang Nadim Airport in Batam, Riau Islands, on Wednesday to meet Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Singapores President Tony Tan Kem Yang.

He was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Peoples Welfare Agung Laksono, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, and Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam.

Presidential Special Aide for International Relations Teuku Feizasyah stated in Jakarta on Tuesday that the meeting between President Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot will be a follow up to their telephonic conversation on the sidelines of the Open Government Partnership Conference on May 6.

Prime Minister Abbot failed to attend the meeting. 

"On June 5, President Yudhoyono will receive Singapores President Tony Tank Kem Yang, and in the evening, he will host a dinner in honor of President Tony Tan," Feizasyah remarked.

The meeting between the Indonesian president and the Australian prime minister is linked to the bilateral relations between the two countries that have been built on the basis of a comprehensive partnership, which can be optimized if the two countries rebuild trust and confidence based on a code of conduct. 

Meanwhile, the meeting between President Yudhoyono and President Tony Tan is expected to strengthen the modality for progress of high-level cooperation programs, such as the Annual Leaders Retreat.

It is hoped that the meeting between the two presidents can also strengthen friendly relations between Singapore and Indonesia, Feizasyah added. 

Source: ANTARA