President To Receive Australian PM

Jakarta, Sept 30 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to receive Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott at Merdeka Palace here on Monday afternoon. In the company of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, the head of state will receive him and his wife Maggie Abbott at 3.30 pm, Presidential Special Staff for International Relations Teuku Faizasyah said. Faizasyah said Abbott`s visit to Indonesia for a crucial bilateral meeting with President Yudhoyono is his first international trip since his election the Australian prime minister on September 18, 2013. Abbott visited Indonesia in October 2012 in his capacity as the opposition chairman in the Australian parliament. According to Faizasyah, during the bilateral meeting, the two leaders will have discussed shared priority issues in accordance with the comprehensive partnership framework. "They will discuss among others economic and social culture cooperation, including people-to-people contacts," he said, adding that the two leaders will also exchange views on global and regional issues of common interest such as cooperation in the forum of East Asia Summit, APEC, and the United Nations. Faizasyah noted that as a result of the visit, the bilateral cooperation of the two countries is expected to get stronger. "Abbott`s visit to Indonesia reflects the spirit to continue and to strengthen the two countries cooperation," he said. Tony Abbott, Australia`s 28th prime minister, has promised to his voters to impose what he called "boat stop" policy in his efforts to deal with the people smuggling issue. Meanwhile, ABC News in its website said border protection will be just one element of a wide-ranging discussion, which will also focus on trade and investment. According to ABC News, Abbott`s message to President Yudhoyono will be that Australia is open for business and thus he takes along 20 prominent business leaders to Jakarta with him to push for stronger ties. "Australia`s cattle trade will also have prominence during the talks, given past trouble with live exports, while Abbott will also argue for greater education ties," according to ABC News. It said the new Australian prime minister will also renew a plea for clemency for the so-called Bali Nine, who are on death row for drug crimes.