Australian Ambassador visits East Java to strengthen relations

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty will visit Surabaya on Monday (30 May) to strengthen ties between Australia and Indonesia’s second-largest city and the major commercial and political centre of East Java.

Ambassador Moriarty will call on Governor Dr Soekarwo and meet with other senior political and media figures based in Surabaya and host a lunch with Indonesian businesses that trade with Australia. The Ambassador will visit Airlangga University to promote greater collaboration between the higher education sectors in Australia and Indonesia.

Ambassador Moriarty will also visit two villages in Jombang, one where the community is supported through Indonesia’s National Program for Community Empowerment (PNPM) and another where 1200 households now have access to clean piped water thanks to Australia’s support.

The Ambassador will also visit the Jombang Mosque and pay his respects to the graves of Bapak Hadratus Syeikh KH Hasyim Asy’ari, Bapak KH.A.Wahid Hasyim and Bapak KH Abdurrahman Wahid.

“I am very pleased to visit Surabaya, the city of heroes and a place of enormous cultural, historic and commercial importance to Indonesia,” Ambassador Moriarty said. “In particular, to pay my respects to figures who played such important roles in the struggle for independence, the democratisation of Indonesia and in the formation of Nahdlatul Ulama.”

“Relations between Australia and Surabaya are strong. Australia supported Indonesia’s struggle for independence and Australia recognises the heroes in Surabaya who sacrificed their lives for their country’s freedom,” Ambassador Moriarty said.

The Australian Navy made a goodwill visit to Surabaya in April. And Australia provides development assistance to East Java to improve basic services and the quality of life for poor Indonesians. Australia has various development programs in East Java including poverty reduction, water and sanitation, education, health and disaster preparedness.

Media Enquiries:
Ray Marcelo, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175