Boediono, Abbott Hold Bilateral Meeting In Canberra

Canberra, Nov 13 (Antara) - Indonesia`s Vice President Boediono and Australia`s Prime Minister Toni Abbott held a bilateral meeting at the Australian Parliament building in Canberra on Wednesday. The Vice President was accompanied by Education and Culture Minister Muhammad Nuh, Administrative Reform Minister Azwar Abubakar and the Deputy Chairman of the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Hajrianto Thohari. The Vice President`s Deputy Secretary for Political Affairs Dewi Fortuna Anwar stated that Boediono and Abbott would probably discuss political issues related to illegal immigrants traveling by sea, as well as the recent wire tapping incident. "The two countries` top officials will probably discuss the `boat people` or illegal immigrants issue and the recent wire tapping incident," Dewi said. During the meeting, Boediono and Abbott also inaugurated the Indonesia-Australia Center, which is slated to become a study center for two countries and will be located at the Monash University in Melbourne. The inauguration of the Indonesia-Australia Center is the realization of the promise made by Abbott during his visit to Jakarta recently. Dewi said the Indonesia-Australia Center would aim to garner interest in and understanding of Indonesia among Australian students and community. Meanwhile, Toni Abbot noted that cooperation in the field of education between Indonesia and Australia should continue to be improved. Abbott made the statement in the presence of Boediono during the inauguration ceremony of Indonesia-Australia Center at 12 noon local time at the Australian Parliament building. The Australian Prime Minister also expressed the hope that more students from his country would be allowed to study in Indonesia and likewise more Indonesian tourists could visit Australia. According to Abbott, the number of Australian students studying in Indonesia was not as many as the number of Indonesian students residing in Australia. Canberra was the second stop made by Vice President Boediono during his working visit to Australia. Earlier on Sunday night, his delegation visited Perth in Western Australia at the invitation of the University of Western Australia and the Premier of Western Australia Colin Barnett. After Canberra, the Vice President will travel to Melbourne before returning to Indonesia on Saturday.