11/1/06 KUALA LUMPUR, (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will be in Indonesia on Thursday and Friday for the annual Malaysian-Indonesia consultation with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a Wisma Putra statement said Tuesday.

It said that Abdullah will meet Susilo in Bukit Tinggi, Sumatera, in their first annual consultation since both assumed the leadership of their countries.

The annual consultation is traditionally held between the prime minister of Malaysia and the president of Indonesia.

The statement said Abdullah will be accompanied by several Cabinet ministers, the chief ministers of Melaka and Penang Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon respectively, and the mentris besar of Kedah (Datuk Mahdzir Khalid), Perak (Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali), Perlis (Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim) and Selangor (Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo), senior government officials and representatives of the corporate sector.

Abdullah is scheduled to have a four-eyed meeting with Susilo, which will be followed by a delegation meeting to discuss issues of mutual interest with the aim to further enhance and strengthen the friendship and bilateral co-operation between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Regional and international issues of common concern to both countries are also expected to feature in the discussions.

On Thursday evening, Susilo will host a dinner in honour of Abdullah.

The two leaders will also witness the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoU), among them those related to avoidance of double taxation and border crossings.

Three MoUs -- on heritage buildings conservation management, education, and medicine -- will be signed by the state government of Melaka and the province of West Sumatera.

The private sector will also sign several MoUs, relating to construction of an offshore gas transmission pipeline and private sector co-operation in the oil palm industry.

The statement also noted that bilateral relations between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta at all levels have always been close and warm and both countries have been co-operating closely in various fields such as trade, education, defence and security through various levels of working groups such as the General Border Committee.

"Existing bilateral mechanisms established by both countries to enhance bilateral ties and co-operation, such as the annual consultations, have helped in enhancing co-operation between Malaysia and Indonesia," the statement said.

Apart from providing an excellent opportunity for both leaders to discuss issues of mutual interest, Abdullah's visit is envisaged to further enhance the existing close bonds of friendship and bilateral co-operation in all fields between the two neighbours.

-- BERNAMA