Canberra (ANTARA News) - Visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday to discuss counter terrorism and bilateral relations.

The leaders of the two countries at the meeting also agreed to expand cooperation in the fight against transnational crime, including people smuggling.

At the bilateral meeting with Rudd, President Yudhoyono was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs

Djoko Suyanto, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Agriculture Minister Suswono, State Minister for the Environment Gusti Muhammad Hatta, State Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs Andi Malarangeng, head of the Investment Coordinating Board Gita Wirjawan, and Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) member Hasan Wirajuda.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said that a joint statement on arrangement of consular notification and consular assistance would be signed after the bilateral meeting.

He said a number of other agreements on cooperation in the fight against transnational crime including people smuggling, extradition, trade, eastern Indonesian development, education, forestry, and environment would also be signed after the meeting.

"There is an agreement to continue stepping up diplomatic cooperation after the strategic partnership in 2005 and Lombok Treaty in 2006," Patti Djalal said.

President Yudhoyono and his entourage arrived in Canberra on Tuesday for a three-day state visit to Australia.

Later on Wednesday afternoon, the president will leave Canberra for Sydney and on Thursday morning leave for Papua New Guinea for a similar state visit.

President Yudhoyono`s entourage included around 100 people like Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, State Minister for the Environment Gusti Muhammad Hatta, Agriculture Minister Suswono, and a number of governors.(*)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik

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