WORLD> Asia-Pacific
Indonesia, Australia to boost cooperation
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-13 14:30

JAKARTA -- Indonesia and Australia on Friday agreed to step up cooperation in defense, climate change and economy, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here.

Susilo and visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd witnessed the signing of an agreement on Indonesia-Australia forest carbon partnership Friday after meeting at the State Palace as an effort to curb the carbon emission.

On security, the two leaders discussed police cooperation in fighting terrorism and military cooperation such as education, joint exercise and exchange of visits, President Susilo said.

He said the two leaders expected the trade volume and investment of the two countries would rise in the future.

Indonesia-Australia trade rose last year by 14 percent, said Susilo.

Rudd arrived here late Thursday on the second leg of his Asian trip which also took him to Japan on the weekend.