Yudhoyono to Leave for Singapore

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his entourage will leave for Singapore on Monday morning for a working visit to the neighboring island country. It is the first leg of his three country tour that will bring him also to two other ASEAN countries Myanmar and Brunei Darussalam. Special presidential staff Teuku Faizasyah said in a press statement, in Singapore Yudhoyono will hold a close door meeting in an annual Leaders' Retreat with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his two day stay in that country. The two leaders will discuss development of bilateral relations mainly cooperation in investment, air transport, tourism, manpower, agribusiness and cooperation in the development of growth area Batam, Bintan , Karimun and other economic zones. The Indonesian president will speak at a meeting with a business and finance community in Singapore. From Singapore, the president and his entourage that includes First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, will fly to Nya Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on April 23 for a two-day state visit. In Myanmar, Yudhoyono will meet with President Myanmar U Thein Sein to discuss bilateral issues. The two presidents are scheduled to witness the signing of a number of agreements such as on capacity building, trade and investment. Yudhoyono will meet Indonesian representatives and community in Myanmar. From Nya Pyi Taw, on April 24 Yudhoyono will proceed to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, where he will attend the 22nd summit meeting ASEAN. During his stay in Brunei, Yudhoyono is also scheduled to attend the 9th summit meeting of Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippine East ASEAN Growth Area and the 7th summit meeting of Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle. (*)