SBY on state visit to Mongolia, Russia

JAKARTA. A Garuda Indonesia Airbus A330 carrying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, and some Cabinet members left Halim Perdanakusuma airport on Wednesday morning for Ulan Bator, Mongolia.

Yudhoyono is slated to have a bilateral meeting with Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj in the capital of the resource-rich nation on Thursday.

The President will also meet with Prime Minister Norovyn Altankhuyag and Parliament Leader Zandaakhuu Enkhbold, according to presidential foreign affairs spokesman Teuku Faizasyah.

Yudhoyono and delegates will then leave Ulan Bator for Vladivostok, Russia, on Friday, to attend the APEC Summit.

"My visit to Mongolia is upon the invitation of the Mongolian president and aimed at enhancing our bilateral trade and investment ties," Yudhoyono said at a short press conference held in the airport before departure.

The President added that he would also have a number of bilateral meetings with fellow heads of state on the sidelines of the APEC meeting.

Among those who are scheduled to meet with Yudhoyono are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Peruvian President Ollanta Moses Humala, and Chilean President Sebastian Piera.

"The meetings with three Latin American heads of state will be important in broadening our relationships in the region as a follow-up to my last visit in Brazil," Yudhoyono said. (Bagus BT Saragih/ The Jakarta Post)