President Yudhoyono receives Australian govt award

SBY PRESIDENCY

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday afternoon local time is scheduled to be awarded an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia by Australian Commonwealth Governor General Quentin Bryce AC.

The conferment will be conducted at the Governor General`s official residence at the Government House in Canberra during a series of courtesy calls of the President during a three-day state visit to Australia starting Tuesday.

The award will be given to President Yudhoyono for his services in fostering the relations between Australia and Indonesia, and in promoting democracy and development in Indonesia.

President Yudhoyono was considered as successful in intensifying and expanding the relations between the two countries in many sectors including the economy, culture, education, fighting terrorism, and human inter-relationship.

The President has also maintained close cooperation with Australia in regional stability and prosperity in the East Sia and APEC summits, and in making a success in raising Indonesia`s active role in global issues like in G-20.

In many instances like terrorist attacks in Indonesia and natural disasters in both Australia Indonesia, the President had acted quickly humanely in preparing the leadership the two countries needed in mutually beneficial cooperation.

The President has also led the relations between the two countries in fostering democracy in Indonesia and maintained economic reforms which have benefited the Indonesian people and the Southeast Asia region.

After the award conferment, the President said that the appreciation was a great honor for him hoping it would strengthen the relations between the two countries and the two peoples in the future.

During the three-day state visit, the President accompanied by Madame Ani Yudhoyono was scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday (Mar 10) before proceeding to Sydney and Papua New Guinea.

Joining the presidential entourage were Minister Coordinating the Economy Hatta Rajasa, Minister Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Trade Minister Mari Pangestu, State Minister for Environment Gusti Muhammad Hatta, Minister of Legal and Human Rights Affairs Patrialis Akbar, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hassan, Agriculture Minister Suswono and State Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs Andi Malarangeng.

Also on hand were Investment Coordinating Board chief Gita Wirjawan, president director of Bank Mandiri, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Young Businessmen (Hipmi) Erwin Aksa, Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu, Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika, and a number of governors of other areas in East Indonesia.(ANTARA News)

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