Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received a visiting Afghan Senate delegation at his office here on Wednesday to show his support for wider cooperation between the two countries.

"Ahead, our cooperation and bilateral relations should not be limited to government-to-government but also between parliaments, businesses and communities of the two countries," he said.

He hoped the visit of the Afghan Senate delegation would boost cooperation and friendship between the two countries including in the fields of democracy and economy.

On the occasion President Yudhoyono explained that he had invited Afghan president Hamid Karzai to the Bali Democracy Forum last week to share Afghan experience and development of democracy.

"I know there was an important conference in Germany so that he could not come," he said.

In the meeting that lasted for about 30 minutes President Yudhoyono was flanked by coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs Djoko Suyanto, minister/state secretary Sudi Silalahi, cabinet secretary Dipo Alam, deputy foreign minister Wardana and presidential special aide for international relations Teuku Faizasyah.

The Afghan delegation was accompanied by Afghan embassy official Zia Ul Rahman Shirzad.
(T.G003*F008/H-YH/HAJM/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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