U.S. Secretary of State meets Indonesian president

Source: Xinhua | 02-19-2009 16:35

JAKARTA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rhodam Clinton met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here on Thursday ahead of her trip to South Korea.

Clinton praised Indonesia for its harmonization among Islam, democracy, modernity and women's rights, Indonesian presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal told a press conference after the meeting.

"Clinton also spoke highly Indonesia's leadership on recent international meeting and effort to combat the impact of the climate change," he said.

During the meeting, President Susilo conveyed the importance of dialogue process to terminate the dispute in the Middle East, which has been a concern of the most of Muslims community in Indonesia, the biggest Muslim country, Dino said.

"President Susilo said both developed and developing countries must do more in the effort of reducing climate change," said Dino.

President Susilo hailed the plan of U.S. President barrack Obama to outreach Islamic community and stressed the importance to resume and intensify interfaith dialogues, which could be a bridge between the West and Muslim world, he said.

The president asked the United States to play more roles in creating peace in the Middle East, he said.