20 May 2014 – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will undertake a State Visit to the Philippines on 22-23 May 2014, upon the invitation of President Benigno S. Aquino III on 05 January 2012.
President Yudhoyono will be attending Manila’s hosting of the World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA) on May 22, where he will be conferred with the Global Statesmanship Award, and witness the official turn over to Indonesia of the hosting of the 24th WEF-EA in 2015.
On May 23, President Yudhoyono will meet with President Aquino to discuss matters of mutual concern, including political, defense and border, maritime, economic and socio-cultural cooperation. President Yudhoyono will also be conferred with the Order of Sikatuna with rank of Raja during the State Dinner to be hosted in his honor.
Indonesia was the 13th major trading partner of the Philippines in 2013, with a total trade of US$ 3.512 billion. There is a 9,844-strong Filipino community living and working in Indonesia. This year also marks the 65th Anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Indonesia.
This will be President Yudhoyono’s first bilateral visit to the Philippines since he became Indonesia’s President for two consecutive terms in 2004 and 2009. President Aquino undertook his State Visit to Indonesia on 07-09 March 2011. END