Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will hold talks with Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Friday in Bali in an effort to further strengthen ties between the two countries.
Aside from discussing ways to improve cooperation in various sectors, the two leaders would discuss regional and global issues of mutual concern, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo said.
"After a joint declaration on a strategic partnership in April 2005, Indonesia-Australia relations have expanded rapidly. Basically, this meeting will aim to establish wider cooperation on these already solid relations," Kristiarto was quoted Thursday by English daily The Jakarta Post as saying.
Kristiarto said Yudhoyono, currently on a state visit to South Korea, would fly directly from Seoul to Denpasar on Thursday.
Australia and Indonesia currently enjoy close relations in the economic, political and defense sectors.
Political and defense relations between Indonesia and Australia were dramatically improved last year after a defense treaty was signed in Lombok, formally recognizing Indonesia's territorial integrity, including over Papua.
Source: Xinhua
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