21/6/06 (Asia Times)   JAKARTA - Indonesia and Malaysia through their state-run oil and gas companies, Pertamina and Petronas respectively, will establish a cooperation in the exploitation of oil and gas resources and a joint research to produce palm oil-based biodiesel.

These remarks were made by Chief Economic Minister Boediono after attending a meeting between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"Indonesia's Pertamina and Malaysia's Petronas will establish cooperation, President Yudhoyono and the Malaysian PM has said ... in any way possible, including in the exploitation of oil and gas," said Boediono.

Besides exploitation, Indonesia and Malaysia will hold a joint research in the production of palm oil-based biodiesel, he said without elaboration.

"Mr Lah [Abdullah Badawi] is visiting here for the Second International Conference of Moslem Scholars. So, there's no special agenda. It's only a discussion," said the minister.

(ANTARA/Asia Pulse)