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Aquino, Indonesia president to explore economic opportunities


President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met on Tuesday to discuss bilateral ties and explore economic opportunities for the Philippines and Indonesia. Aquino and the Indonesian leader held a closed-door meeting where they were expected to discuss fisheries cooperation, maritime boundary delimitation, and other matters. Earlier on Tuesday, Aquino went to the Alibata National Heroes Cemetery to lead a wreath-laying ceremony. Malacañang earlier said Aquino will also witness in Indonesia the signing of three agreements:

  • on basic education and sports cooperation;
  • cooperation in preventing and combating transnational crimes, and
  • capacity-building. Aquino is also set to meet with Filipinos in Indonesia, as well as with local business leaders to drum up support for the investment initiatives of his administration. A report on GMA News TV's News To Go said the President arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at about 11:45 p.m. on Monday via a Cebu Pacific flight. Accompanying the President in his state visit were acting Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert del Rosario, Finance Sec. Cesar Purisima, Trade Sec. Gregorio Domingo, Energy Sec. Jose Almendras, and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Hermino "Sonny" Coloma. The 53-man Philippine delegation was welcomed by ranking Indonesian officials led by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa. The President then proceeded to the Grand Hyatt Hotel, where he was greeted by officials of the Philippine Ebmbassy to Jakarta. The President will then leave for Singapore on Thursday, where he will meet Singaporean President SR Nathan, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, where they will discuss government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives, the Philippines-Singapore Action Plan and other matters of bilateral and ASEAN concerns. Aquino will leave the island state on Saturday. The Aquino administration is spending a total of P12.27 million, excluding airfares, for the two-country state visits. – VVP, GMA News