Yudhoyono To Visit Four Countries

Jakarta, Jan 30 (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon to visit four African and Middle Eastern countries. The President and several Indonesian delegates boarded the presidential plane at around 5pm to visit Liberia, Nigeria, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The President hopes to strengthen bilateral and multilateral ties by visiting the aforementioned countries. President Yudhoyono will attend a High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on Post-2015 Development Agenda meeting in Monrovia, Liberia. This is the third meeting; the first meeting was held in New York, US, on September 25, 2012, and the second meeting was held in London, Britain, on November 1, 2012. In Liberia, President Yudhoyono will also hold a bilateral meeting with the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to enhance relations between the two countries in various fields - trade, investments and technical cooperation. President Yudhoyono will then travel to Abuja, Nigeria. He will meet the Nigerian President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and the Nigerian delegation. "This visit is important because it will help to enhance relations between the two countries," he said. President Yudhoyono said Nigeria`s President had visited Indonesia twice � at the 50th Anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference and at the G8 Summit. He said Nigeria contributes to Africa`s economy significantly. Hence, it is important for Indonesia to establish strong ties with Nigeria. Then, Indonesian President Yudhoyono will go to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to deliver a speech at the Indonesia-Saudi Arabia business forum. The President and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono will make a minor Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Then, the President will attend the 12th Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit in Egypt. The summit`s theme is, "The Muslim World: New Challenges and Expanding Opportunities". Several issues will be discussed during the meeting, including economic, social, cultural and technological development.