Visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick has encouraged Indonesia to play a greater role in Asia and take steps to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

Zoellick said he was eager to see Indonesia take more leadership role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has 10 member countries in the region.

"I hope and believe that ASEAN can play a larger role in the political, economic and security context in the Asian region, fromSouth Asia to Northeast Asia. Frankly, for ASEAN to play that role,it really requires that Indonesia take its traditional place in terms of guiding the ASEAN process," the US official was quoted as saying by the daily Jakarta Post here on Sunday.

However, he also added, "for a very understandable reason, that hasn't really occurred since 1997 because of the preoccupation with the political process and change."

Zoellick made the remarks following a signing ceremony over a 73.7 million US dollar aid package for the country with Indonesian State Minister for National Development Planning Sri Mulyani Indrawati here on Saturday.

The money is provided as economic development aid to help the Indonesian government strengthen its anti-corruption program, increase competitiveness in key sectors and create financial stability.

This is part of a five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID) strategy to help Indonesia strengthen bilateral ties. Over the five years, the United States will provide 750 million US dollars in assistance to the country.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with the US envoy at the State Palace and had discussions over some issues in the region. Susilo is scheduled to begin a two-day visit to the United States on May 25, during which trade and economic issues would be on top of the agenda in his meeting with the US president.

Source: Xinhua