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Australian FM starts Indonesia visit

JAKARTA: Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer began a three-day visit to Indonesia on Monday as part of the new conservative government's drive to consolidate ties in Asia.

Downer will have talks with Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and meet President Suharto, who has led these islands just north of Australia since the mid-1960s, officials said.

"I am looking forward to consolidating the bilateral relationship between Australia and Indonesia because it is a very important relationship for Australia," Downer said.

"We want to build and strengthen that relationship," he told reporters on arrival.

Downer said in Sydney at the weekend that Indonesia was a natural first overseas destination, reflecting the priority his government is giving the relationship.

From Indonesia, Downer will go on to Singapore and Thailand.

The new Australian government last week released what it called a foreign policy "road map" stressing stronger bilateral ties with Asia as its highest priority.

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating promoted closer ties with Asia as his government's principal foreign policy platform. It focused in particular on improving relations with Jakarta.

This culminated with the signing of an historic security pact with Indonesia last December.-Reuter