PUTRAJAYA, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib TunRazak's four-day Indonesian visit beginning next Tuesday is not only toforge ties with the new leadership but also to enhance economicco-operation, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said Friday.

Among the matters that would be discussed were illegal immigrants,plantations, palm oil prices, and co-operation in oil and gas exploration,he said.

"All these will give greater economic momentum which is important to bothcountries," he told reporters at an Aidilfitri function organised by hisministry.

Also present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, DeputyPrime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Finance MinisterDatuk Dr Ng Yen Yen.

He said Najib's visit was a follow-up to the prime minister's visit lastOct 19 and 20 to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new Indonesianpresident, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Accompanying Najib on the visit are Plantation Industries and CommoditiesMinister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, Home Affairs Minister Datuk AzmiKhalid, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar andDeputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad HusniHanadzlah.

Najib will also attend the two nations' annual General Border Committeemeeting with his counterpart from Dec 9 to 10.

Syed Hamid said Najib would also meet Susilo and Vice-President MuhammadJusuf Kalla.

"We see Malaysia and Indonesia as close neighbours who must work togetherto forge greater bilateral cooperation, especially in economy andpolitics," he said.

Meanwhile, Syed Hamid said the selection of Malaysia to host the inauguralEast Asia Summit next year was a collective decision by Asean countries,including Indonesia.

"It was a decision of Asean. I think once we thank Indonesia, we thank allour Asean brothers and sisters in Asia for arriving at a consensus toallow Malaysia to be the first host of the East Asia Summit," he said.

At the Asean summit in Vientiane (Laos) last week, all member countriesunanimously agreed that Malaysia should host the first East Asia Summit.

-- BERNAMA