Najib Arrives For 2-day Official Visit To Indonesia

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who is accompanied by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor being welcomed upon arrival at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. Pic: Azman Firdaus

Jakarta - Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, arrived here today for a two-day official visit to Indonesia.

It marks his first overseas visit as the Prime Minister, and the trip to the ASEAN member country is in line with Malaysia‘s long-standing tradition with neighbouring Indonesia.

Najib is leading a seven-minister delegation, reflecting the importance that Malaysia has always given to Indonesia in their bilateral relations.

The ministers are Datuk Anifah Aman (Foreign Affairs); Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat (Transport); Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok (Plantation Industries and Commodities); Datuk Mustapa Mohamed (International Trade and Industry Minister); and Datuk Noh Omar (Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister).

Also in the delegation are Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi; Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam; and Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa.

Najib was greeted on board the aircraft by Indonesia‘s Chief of Protocol Lutfi Rauf and welcomed on the ground by Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, Minister-in-Attendance Sofyan Djalil, Indonesian Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Dai Bachtiar and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Zainal Abidin Mohamed Zain and senior staff of the Malaysian Embassy, here were also present.

The Prime Minister has a very tight schedule tomorrow starting with a wreath laying ceremony at Indonesia‘s Heroes Cemetery in Kalibata.

Najib will then proceed to Istana Merdeka for the official welcoming ceremony where he will inspect the Guard of Honour amidst a 19-gun salute in the Palace ground right in the capital‘s central district.

Accompanied by Rosmah, he will then call on Indonesia‘s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Ibu Ani Yudhoyono also at the Istana Merdeka.

After a bilateral meeting at the Palace, both Najib and Susilo are scheduled to give a joint press conference, where they are expected to reaffirm the importance of continuous smooth and enhanced bilateral relations and closer cooperation in many fields for the benefits of both countries and their peoples.

From Istana Merdeka, Najib and delegation will proceed to the Vice Presidential Palace to call on Indonesia‘s Vice-President Jusuf Kalla.

Jusuf will be hosting Najib to an informal luncheon at his official residence in Jalan Diponegoro, Menteng in South Jakarta.

Later in the afternoon, the Prime Minister will hold a meeting with the Speaker of Indonesia‘s People Consultative Assembly (MPR), Hidyat Nur Wahid and another with the Speaker of Indonesia‘s House of Representative (DPR) Agung Laksono at the Parliament house.

After the hour-long meeting, Najib is scheduled to meet with the Malaysian press at his hotel of residence.

In the evening, President Susilo will host an official dinner for Najib at the Istana Negara.

The Prime Minister and wife will leave for home after the dinner. Mohd Nasir Yusoff

Source: http://www.bernama.com (22 April 2009)

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