London (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived at the Horseguards Parade square in London on Wednesday afternoon to start a three-day state visit in Britain.

The President and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono arrived at the square in a car five minutes before Queen Elizabeth II arrived.

Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh received President Yudhoyono and his wife at the royal pavilion tent erected in front of the Horseguard Parade.

As the President and his wife were heading to the pavilion they were greeted with royal salute by the queen`s guards from 1st Battalion Irish Guards, The Queen`s Colour Guard, The Drums and Pipes of The Battalion and The Band of the Regiment.

After inspecting the Horseguard parade, the President went to the Buckingham Palace aboard a horse-drawn carriage along with Queen Elizabeth II.

President Yudhoyono is paying a three-day visit in Britain at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The President`s entourage to Britain consists of several cabinet ministers, including Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegwa, as well as a number of state officials.

Earlier, presidential special staff for international relations Teuku Faizasyah said the head of state would also meet with Prince Charles, Liberal Democrat Party Chairman Nick Clegg, and opposition leader Ed Miliband.

"President Yudhoyono`s visit to Britain at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II is expected to boost two countries` cooperation both at the bilateral level and in the context of joint efforts to address various global issues," he stated.

"When British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Indonesia in April 2012, it was agreed that the two countries will focus on cooperation in five areas, namely trade, investment, education, environment, and democracy," Faizasyah pointed out.

He added that the President would speak before All-Party Parliamentary Group on Indonesia, Royal College for Defence Studies, and Wilton Park - an executive agency of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The Indonesian head of state will be in Britain until November 3, before making a working visit to Laos to attend the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). (S012)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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