[Indonesian Report] Hillary Clinton meets Indonesian President SBY in Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, right, and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton exchage greets when the latter arrived at the entrance of Indonesian Presidential Palace Tuesday. (Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim in www.thejakartaglobe.com)

U.S. Secretary State Hillary Rodham Clinton, met Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday (Sept 4), last day of  her two-day diplomatic visit to Indonesia.

During their brief meeting in Indonesian Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Hillary and SBY talked about several main issues ranging from the dispute in South China Sea, Rohingya conflict in Myanmar to conflict in Syria, according to the report of The Jakarta Globe Wednesday (Sept. 5).

Indonesian Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegawa, who also attended the meeting, told reporters that the highlighted agenda was the role of Association of South East Asia in the South China Sea dispute.

President SBY also raised his concern on the conflict of Rohingya in Myanmar.

“The United States expressed its appreciation for Indonesia’s measured and compassionate position on the matter, which is based objectively on the developments on the ground,” Natalegawa said.

President SBY also emphasized that Indonesia has been consistently called for an end in Syrian conflict between the rebel group and government that has cost thousands of civilians’ life.

On her arrival on Monday (Sept 3), Clinton had meeting with Marty Natalegawa, where they also discussed the issues of South China Sea and the alliance.

During their joint press conference, Clinton said that US alliance with Indonesia is the foundation for US presence in Asia and the Pacific in the face of rising China.

Clinton also raised the Papua unrest issue and voiced a support for Indonesia’s territorial integrity but also expressed concern on the human rights violation issues.

“Of course we deplore violence in Papua and when it does occur, there should be a full and transparent investigation and that the important lessons are learned,” she said.

This was Clinton’s first visit to Indonesia since her last visit in 2009.

U.S, State Department on its press release sad that since Hillary Clinton’s last visit to Indonesia, the two countries relationship has never been stronger.

After meeting Indonesian President, Clinton then flew to China and arrived in Beijing on Tuesday (Sept 4).

Clinton’s agenda of the visit to China would be dominated by the talks of the South China Sea disputes involving China, Philippine, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia.

Clinton met with Chinese Foreign Minister Ynag Jiechi on Tuesday and is scheduled to give a press conference and meet with Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao Wednesday (Sept 5).

Meidyana Rayana Intern Reporter news@theasian.asia