"In the bilateral meeting between President Yudhoyono and Chancellor Merkel, both leaders will discuss improved cooperation on priority areas, trade and investment, education, research and technology, health as well as defense industry," said Presidential spokesman for Foreign Affairs Teuku Faizasyah on a press release received by ANTARA, here on Saturday.
Faizasyah also said that the visit would be an opportunity for both heads of government to talk about regional and global issues.
"On this occasion, they will launch Indonesia-Germany Comprehensive Partnership Declaration, marking on a visionary partnership in the future which refers to the areas of joint cooperation," he added.
Merkel, who took office in 2005, will arrive in Jakarta, Tuesday (July 10), making series of events including wreaths laying on Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, official welcoming ceremony at the Merdeka Palace, bilateral meeting with President Yudhoyono and state banquet.
In addition, she plans to visit Immanuel Church and Southeast Asian largest mosque Istiqlal. She will also have a meeting with Constitutional Court Chief, Mahfud MD.
Meanwhile, Merkel`s spokesperson Steffen Seibert was quoted as saying that the Europe`s top economy leader would embark on the brief trip as the euro-zone debt crisis rumbles on.
Government sources, as quoted by media in Bangkok, described Indonesia as a comparably stable developing country with robust prospects but expressed concerns about frequent human rights violations in the resources-rich province of West Papua.
Merkel aims to take up issues of regional security, such as the fight against piracy in the Strait of Malacca linking the Indian Ocean with the Pacific, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Seibert said that there were no plans for Merkel to hold talks with visiting International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, who will be in Jakarta on July 8-10.
Bilateral trade relations have developed briskly in recent years with Germany exporting 3.4 billion euros ($4.2 billion) in goods and services to Indonesia in 2011. Imports from the country were valued at 3.3 billion euros.
(ANT)
Editor: AA Ariwibowo
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
