"The bilateral talks will focus on common efforts to bring progress to the economic cooperation..."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono greeted Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko at the Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday evening.
Shortly after they shook hands, Yudhoyono hosted a state ceremony of welcome in honor of the Belarus president.
During the welcome ceremony the national anthems of the two countries were played and a 21-gun solute was fired.
Lukashensko later inspected the guards of honor.
The Belarus president`s visit came ahead of the commemoration of 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Indonesia and Belarus officially opened diplomatic ties on June 18, 1993.
During his stay, Lukashensko will hold bilateral talks with Yudhoyono, Teuku Faizasyah, the president`s special aide for international affairs, said.
"The bilateral talks will focus on common efforts to bring progress to the economic cooperation between the two countries," Faizasyah said.
The two leaders will also discuss efforts to enhance cooperation in other fields, including agriculture, science and technology, he said.
Belarus became independent in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The country now has a population of about 9.4 million with per capital gross national product (GNP) reaching US$15,000.
Belarus is one of the world`s largest potassium producers. It is also a producer of mining products and heavy-duty equipment and agricultural devices.
Trade between Indonesia and Belarus rose 27.03 percent to US$163.03 million in 2012 from US$128.3 million in 2011. Indonesia was Belarus` fourth largest trade partner in Asia after China, India and Japan in 2011.
(Reporting by Muhammad Arief Iskandar; editing by Suharto)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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