"The core of the visit is in a effort to step up the already good relation between Indonesia and Australia."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Boediono is slated to visit Australia from March 9-13 to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Western Australia in Perth.
Besides, the vice president would also have a business meeting with the local businessmen during the visit.
"The honorary doctorate will be awarded to the vice president because he is considered to have given lot of meritorious services to the people during his career in the government so far," vice presidential spokesman Yopie Hidayat told newsmen at the vice presidential office here on Monday.
Yopie said Vice President Boediono would visit not only Perth but also Canberra and Sydney.
He said the vice president obtained his bachelor`s degree from the University of Western Australia with a Colombo Plan scholarship.
While in Perth, Vice President Boediono would attend a conference organized by Australian think tank The Zone, and be the keynote speaker on the occasion.
"The vice president will also speak about Indonesia`s economic development and its impact on Southeast Asia and Asia," Yopie Hidayat said, adding that Boediono would also inspect a number of ocean wave energy technology centers in Western Australia and meet with Governor Kim Hames.
On March 11 the vice president and his entourage would go to Canberra to meet with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan and to attend a gathering with Indonesian community there.
After spending one day in Canberra, Boediono would go to Sydney on March 12 to meet with Australian business community to talk on Indonesia`s economic progress and business opportunities Australian businessmen could avail of in Indonesia.
"The core of the visit is in a effort to step up the already good relation between Indonesia and Australia and continue to be strengthened in the future," Yopie Hidayat said.
Yopie said that during the visit, the vice president would be accompanied among others by Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Finance Minister Agus Martowardoyo, and State Minister for Administrative Reforms EE Mangindaan.
(Uu.O001/HAJM/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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