President Yudhoyono Departs for Bali to Attend 7th BDF

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left for Bali on Wednesday for a three-day working visit, during which he will inaugurate the 7th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF).

The president accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono boarded the presidential plane Boeing Business Jet (BBJ-2) and departed from the Halim Perdanakusuma military base in East Jakarta at 2:30 p.m. western Indonesian time and is scheduled to arrive at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali at 5 p.m. central Indonesian time.

While in Bali, Yudhoyono will stay at the Tampaksiring Presidential Palace in Gianyar district.

The 7th BDF themed, "Evolving Regional Democratic Architecture: the Challenge of Political Development, Public Participation and Socio-Economic Progress Progress in the 21st Century," will be held on October 10-11.

Three heads of state: the Philippines President Benigno Aquino III, Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam are set to attend the two-day event.

BDF is a forum that was initiated by Indonesia in 2008 to promote and encourage regional and international cooperation in the field of peace and democracy.

The 7th BDF will be the last one to be inaugurated by President Yudhoyono, who will end his second term in office on October 20, this year. (WDY)