MPR Chairman Taufiq Kiemas made the statement when receiving Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty at the MPR building here on Thursday.
Moriarty met the MPR chief not only to introduce himself as a new Australian ambassador to Indonesia but also to follow up plans for closer cooperation Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard had discussed with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when the former visited Indonesia not long ago.
Taufiq said Australia was Indonesia`s close neighbor in the south. Diplomatic relations between the two countries are of very long standing. Although their relations from time to time were disturbed or became strained, the two countries benefited from them.
"Their relations have much benefited both countries," said Taufiq who during the meeting was accompanied by MPR Deputy Chairpersons Hajriyanto Y Thohari and Melani Leimena Suharli.
On the occasion, the MPR chief also expressed gratitude to the Australian government for the educational assistance it had extended to Indonesia.
As fellow G-20 members, Indonesia and Australia are partners, he said.
"Not all countries can become G-20 members," he said.(*)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
