Defence ties high on agenda as French president visits Indonesia

Jakarta (dpa) - French President Francois Hollande was due to arrive in Jakarta on Wednesday, in the first official visit to Indonesia by a French president in 30 years.Hollande was scheduled to hold talks with President Joko Widodo at the presidential palace in Jakarta during the two-day visit, part of a Southeast Asia trip that has included stops in Singapore and Malaysia.Hollande and Joko are set to discuss cooperation in the areas of defence and maritime affairs as well as in industries including fashion and film, the French embassy said in a statement."This state visit testifies to the desire of France to strengthen its relations with Indonesia, a strategic partner since 2011," the embassy said.Hollande will be accompanied by Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Christophe Sirugue, secretary of state for the digital industry and innovation, as well as some 50 businessmen.Agreements to be signed during the visit include those on defence, a maritime partnership, the creative economy, sustainable urban development and the financing of infrastructure projects in Indonesia, the embassy said.Investment agreements worth 2.6 billion dollars also are expected to be signed between French and Indonesian companies, including those in the energy and transport sectors, it said.Hollande‘s visit to Indonesia will be the first by a French president since Francois Mitterrand met the late president Suharto in Jakarta in 1986.