RI, US must maintain economic cooperation: president

The Jakarta Post  |  Thu, 02/19/2009 3:49 PM 
 

Warm welcome: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (right) greets US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, shortly after her arrival at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday. During her first overseas visit as America’s top diplomat, Clinton is expected to revitalize US economic and development ties with Indonesia and Southeast Asia. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stressed the importance for Indonesia and the United States to maintain the momentum of their economic cooperation amid the current global economic crisis. 

"The president has reminded in the meeting that Indonesia and the United States should not slacken but tighten their economic cooperation amid the global economic crisis conditions," Presidential Spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said as quoted by Antara news agency Thursday. 

Djalal said that the trade volume of the two countries in 2008 was recorded at US$20.1 billion while the United States investment in Indonesia accounted for US$10.6 billion.

The presidential spokesman said that President Yudhoyono called his 45-minute meeting with Clinton as productive and convenient. 

"In the meeting, the president hailed the two sides` efforts to build a comprehensive partnership," he said. 

Djalal said that the idea of the partnership was raised by President Yudhoyono when he conducted a visit to Washington DC in December 2008. 

"The president stressed the need for Indonesia and the United States to build a strategic partnership," the presidential spokesman said adding that the details of the strategic partnership was now being discussed at the technical level. 

On the occasion, the president also appreciated the US support for Indonesia`s idea about a coral reef protection program and an education program through scholarships for Indonesian students. 

Yudhoyono also emphasized the need for the United States` involvement in the international efforts to overcome climate change problems, owing to the fact that the United States was one of the biggest contributors to gas emission. 

Clinton who is on her two-day visit in Indonesia came to the Presidential Office with a large group of security forces, US foreign affairs department and embassy officials and a number of US journalists. 

After attending the close-door meeting and bidding a farewell to the president, Clinton unexpectedly approached local and domestic journalists who were waiting for her.

The US secretary of state spontaneously approached them to shook hands with newsmen causing them to push with each other to get closer to the former US first lady. 

Clinton who arrived at 2.04 pm on Wednesday is paying a two-day visit in Indonesia from February 18 to 19, 2009. Before she paid a courtesy call on Yudhoyono, Clinton had met with her counterpart Hassan Wirajuda, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan and a number of Indonesian noted figures. 

Indonesia is the second country in Clinton`s first overseas trip in her capacity as US secretary of state to four Asian nations, namely Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China. 

After her visit in Indonesia, Clinton is scheduled to visit South Korea and China.

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