President Returns To Jakarta After Four-Day Visit

Pekalongan, C Java, Feb 5 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday evening, boarded a special train from Pekalongan to reach Jakarta, thus ending his four-day working visit to the several districts in West Java and Central Java provinces. The President and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono left the Pekalongan railway station at 4:00 p.m. local time. They are scheduled to arrive at around 9:30 p.m. local time at the Gambir railway station in Jakarta. The President`s entourage included Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, and Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu. On the last day of his working visit on Wednesday, the President visited the International Batik Center (IBC) and "Kampoeng" or Village Batik Kauman in Pekalongan, Central Java. President Yudhoyono and his entourage took a look around the IBC area, which had 200 kiosks and also conversed with the craftsmen. One of the craftsmen informed President Yudhoyono that an entire year`s worth of labor goes into making a single piece of batik with intricate patterns. After visiting the IBC, the President attended the commemoration of Prophet Muhammad`s Birth 1435 H at the Kanzus Sholawat Building in Pekalongan, with thousands of members of the Habib Muhammad Lutfi bin Yahya congregation in attendance. On the occasion, the President lauded the congregation members for their efforts in upholding the spirit of cohesion and solidarity.