Indonesian leader backs Myanmar's handling of conflicts
Play
Indonesia supports the Myanmar government's handling of internal conflicts, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.
The Indonesian president expressed his support at a meeting with President Thein Sein in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
President’s Office director Zaw Htay quoted Yudhoyono as saying he understood the turmoil that was happening in Myanmar and supported the government’s means of handling them.
Yudhoyono was on a two-day goodwill visit to Myanmar and discussed the strengthening of bilateral ties. The two countries also signed memorandums of understanding on investment and trade, capacity building and rice trade.
Yudhoyono recalled his first trip to Myanmar in 2006 and recognised the country’s significant progress toward democracy, peace and stability and international relations he witnessed in his second visit, the President’s Office website reported.
He vowed to boost economic cooperation as Indonesia is supportive of Myanmar’s reforms. He also promised to push Indonesia’s public and private firms to invest in Myanmar and set the bilateral trade target for next year at US$1 billion, the website stated.
Before arriving on Tuesday, Yudhoyono told reporters that he would urge Myanmar leaders to address the violence against Muslims as it could cause problems for Muslims elsewhere in the region, www.uk.news.yahoo.com reported.
“If it's not addressed in the best way possible, its impact is not good for Myanmar and even for Indonesians who are majority Muslims,” Yudhoyono said at a news forum held in Singapore recently.
