Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left Jakarta on Wednesday morning for Beijing to make a five-day official visit to China, where he will attend the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
Yudhoyono, accompanied by his wife Ani Yudhoyono, and a number of cabinet ministers, including Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, State Minister for Environment Rachmat Witoelar and Energy Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, reported dpa.
Before attending the 7th ASEM Summit, Yudhoyono would hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said.
During his visit to China, Yudhoyono would also attend the South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on Thursday, followed by the ASEAN Plus 3 Summit, which includes China, Japan and South Korea, to discuss the impacts of the global financial crisis on the East Asian economy, Djalal was quoted as saying by the state-run Antara news agency.
During the 7th ASEM forum, which runs October 24-15, Yudhoyono would discuss various regional and global issues with leaders of the two continents, where he was scheduled to present a topic on Global and Regional Development, which is one of five topics to be discussed among leaders of the Asian and European countries, Djalal said.
The other topics are the current financial crisis as well as promoting Asia-Europe trade and investment, climate change and sustainable development and energy security.
In his meeting with EC President Jose Manuel Barroso, Yudhoyono would discuss on the flight ban imposed by the EU against Indonesian airliners, reported The Jakarta Post.
On July last year, the European Union imposed ban on 51 Indonesian airlines for not meeting international safety standards. The EU ban followed a spate of air accidents that killed hundreds of people.