Australia Hopes For Successful Trilateral Meeting

Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has expressed hope that the trilateral meeting among Indonesia, Australia, and Timor Leste, to be held on Friday, will yield positive results.

While speaking to the press at the media center of the 5th Bali Democracy Forum here on Thursday, Gillard said the meeting of the leaders of the three countries was expected to pave the way for future cooperation and development.

"A trilateral meeting among the leaders of Australia, Indonesia, and Timor Leste will be the first of its kind," she noted.

Gillard expressed optimism that the meeting would lead to increased cooperation among the three countries in various fields.

The Australian prime minister was one of the 11 heads of state attending the event, held on November 8-9.

Gillard, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak have been co-chairing the annual forum since 2008.

In her address at the opening ceremony of the 5th Bali Democracy Forum, Gillard praised Indonesia for its effort in promoting democratic values at the regional level.

She said Indonesia is one of the largest democracies in the world and, therefore, Australia is keen to cooperate with the country in promoting the values of democracy in the Asia-Pacific region.(*/T007)