PRESIDENT YUDHOYONO ARRIVES IN KUALA LUMPUR FOR D-8 SUMMIT

Kuala Lumpur, July 6 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived here on Sunday evening for a D-8 (group of eight developing countries) summit.
The president arrived here at 4.35 p.m. by a presidential plane from a visit to East Kalimantan where he opened the 17th National Sports Week (PON) on Saturday.
Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Dai Bachtiar and Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar greeted the Indonesian leader and entourage upon arrival.
The president's entourage includes Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Environment Minister Rahmat Witoelar, Chief of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) MS. Hidayat and Chief of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) M. Luthfi.
D-8 is a group of developing countries that have formed an economic development alliance. The group was established after an announcement in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 15, 1997.
It consists of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.
The main areas of D-8 cooperation include finance, banking, rural development, science and technology, humanitarian development, agriculture, energy, environment, and health.
During his stay in Kuala Lumpur, President Yudhoyono and his Malaysian counterpart are expected to inaugurate an Indonesia-Malaysia expert group aimed at enhancing bilateral ties between the two neighboring states. The Indonesian side in the group will be represented by Try Sutrisno, Ali Alatas, Quraish Syihab, Des Alwi, Musni Umar, Maria Purenti and Wahyu Bahar.
From Malaysia, President Yudhoyono will continue his trip to Japan to attend a group of eight industrialized nations (G-8) summit.