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Australian PM opens Bali hospital | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Australian Prime Minister John Howard has opened a memorial hospital on the holiday island of Bali during a day-long visit to Indonesia. | |
Eighty-eight Australians were among the 202 people who were killed in nightclub bombings on the island five years ago. | |
Mr Howard has also held talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that focused on security as well as trade. | |
Earlier this month, Australia issued an advisory against travel to Indonesia, warning of possible terrorist attacks. | Earlier this month, Australia issued an advisory against travel to Indonesia, warning of possible terrorist attacks. |
The Australia-Bali Memorial Eye Centre in Bali's provincial capital, Denpasar, is the centrepiece of a funding package announced by Canberra in the wake of the 2002 attacks. | |
Opening the centre, Mr Howard called it "a gift from the Australian people to the future health and well-being of the people of Bali and Indonesia". | |
He said it was a "practical memorial" to those who died on 12 October 2002 and also a "practical expression" of the Australian people's affection towards the Balinese. | |
The Indonesian president described the centre as a monument to the "enduring and growing friendships" between the two countries. | |
Trade pact study | |
Before opening the hospital, the two leaders met for talks on a number of issues that included security, trade and climate change. | |
In particular, they discussed a new defence and security treaty, known as the Lombok Treaty, signed by both countries last year. | |
Friday's meeting gave them the opportunity to discuss the progress of their counter-terrorism co-operation in the wake of several high-profile arrests last month. | |
The alleged leader of militant Islamic extremist group Jemaah Islamiah, Zarkasih, and the leader of its military wing, Abu Dujana, were among those detained. | The alleged leader of militant Islamic extremist group Jemaah Islamiah, Zarkasih, and the leader of its military wing, Abu Dujana, were among those detained. |
Trade issues were also raised, with both men agreeing to launch a feasibility study into a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. | |
"The more that we can develop those investment links, the closer will become the bonds between our two countries," Mr Howard said following the meeting. | |
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