President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Honolulu, Hawaii, on November 12-13.

Both presidents discussed the further development of their bilateral relations, the Indonesian foreign ministry said on its website here on Monday.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed, in particular, the development of economic and research and development cooperation, as well as expanding contacts in the humanitarian fields, especially education and tourism, the Indonesian embassy in Moscow said in information made available to the ministry. 

Meanwhile, it was reported earlier that President Dmitry Medvedev would not be able to attend the Sixth East Asian Summit (EAS) in Bali on November 19, 2011.

"The Russian president cannot attend and will be replaced by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov," Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Michael Tene said in in Nusa Dua, Bali, Saturday (Nov 12).

According to information from the Russian Embassy in Jakarta, Medvedev could not leave Russia as he was preparing for an upcoming election.

Russia, along with the US, are the EAS`s newest members. With Medvedev`s absence, only US President Barack Obama would be attending the meeting for the first time.

On Saturday (Nov 12), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his address before the APEC leaders said the 21st century belongs to Asia and the Pacific as a rapidly growing region and the world`s strategic axis.

The President said Asia and the Pacific which connected Asia with America could determine the world`s future if the region could identify steps ahead to ensure peace and prosperity in the region.

"The Asia-Pacific region must play an important role in creating strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive economic growth," he said in the APEC Summit. 

After attending the APEC Summit, President Yudhoyono will host the 19th ASEAN Summit and the Sixth East Asian Summit at Nusa Dua, Bali, Nov 17-19, 2011. ***6***

Source: ANTARA