PRESIDENT OFF FROM SYDNEY

Sydney, Mar 11 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left Sydney, Australia, for Papua New Guinea (PNG), Thursday.

The presidential airliner took off from Sydney on Thursday at noon local time, and scheduled to arrive in the PNG at 4 pm local time.

President Yudhoyono made a state visits to Australia and PNG for four days since March 9, and slated to return to Jakarta on Friday at noon local time.

In Australia, the President had a meeting with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, members of Parliament and businessmen.

During the meeting with Kevin Rudd, cooperation agreements were signed and a joint statement was made on arrangement on consular notification and consular assistance.

The two governments also signed a number of accords on the handling of human smuggling, the extradition of criminals in the two countries, trade, the development of Indonesia's eastern provinces, education and forestry as well as the environment.

In the state visits, the President was in the company of his wife, Madame Ani Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister of the Economy Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security affairs Djoko Suyanto, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Legal and Human Rights Affairs Patrialis Akbar, Trade Minister Mari Pangestu, Agriculture Minister Suswono, State Minister of Environment Gusti Muhammad Hatta, State Minister for Youth and Sports Andi Malarangeng, and Head of the Investment Coordination Agency (BKPM) Gita Wirjawan.

In Australia, the Indonesian Head of State also delivered a speech to the Australian Parliament, which was a rare opportunity for heads of state and government visiting Australia because in the 109 years of the Australian Parliament, only five heads of state and government have enjoyed the privilege.