Business travel for Indonesians to Australia will be made easier in a deal between national leaders #Business #travel #Indonesians #Australia #easier #deal #national #leaders

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Business travel for Indonesians to Australia will be made easier in a bid to boost the economic partnership between the two countries following a deal struck on Tuesday between their leaders.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Joko Widodo agreed on visa changes, climate initiative funding and education partnerships during talks at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.

Albanese announced Indonesians will be able to access extended business visas for Australia, increasing from three to five years, while Indonesian e-passport holders will be prioritised. Indonesians will also be able to access a frequent traveler visa.

A currency trader watches monitors at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Asian stock markets were mixed Tuesday after Wall Street hit a 15-month high ahead of a decision by Australia's central bank on a possible interest rate hike. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Asian stock markets are mixed after Australia’s central bank kept its key lending rate unchanged and Wall Street hit a 15-month high. Tokyo and Seoul retreated.

FILE - Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia Philip Lowe speaks in Sydney, Australia, on Sept. 8, 2022. Australia’s central bank left its benchmark interest rate at 4.1% at a policy meeting Tuesday, July 4, 2023, after inflation fell to 5.6% in May from 6.5% a month earlier. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

Australia’s central bank has left its benchmark interest rate at 4.1% after inflation fell to 5.6% in May from 6.5% a month earlier.

FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2020, file photo, Hong Kong activist Nathan Law, center, takes part in a protest during the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Berlin, Germany. Hong Kong police on Monday, July 3, 2023, accused eight self-exiled pro-democracy activists, including Nathan Law, of violating the territory's tough National Security Law and offered rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($127,600) each for information leading to their arrests. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

Hong Kong’s leader says eight pro-democracy activists who now live in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia will be pursued for life for alleged national security offenses.

Asian stock markets are mixed after Wall Street hit a 15-month high ahead of a decision by Australia’s central bank on a possible interest rate hike.

“This offers a 10-year visa validity making an enormous difference and removing bureaucratic impediments to our closer relationship,” Albanese said. “Today our relationship shifts up another gear, our countries continue to choose to draw closer together.”

Albanese said Indonesia would play a critical role in boosting the success of the Indo-Pacific region.

Widodo, who is on a three-day visit to Australia, said the two countries needed to work together on emissions reduction and developing batteries for electric vehicles. Indonesia has been looking at developing electric vehicle infrastructure across the country.

“We want the Indo-Pacific to become a stable and peaceful region that focuses on collaboration and concrete cooperation,” he said.

Widodo also urged Australian private sector companies to work on the construction of Indonesia’s new capital city located on Borneo island.

Albanese announced a new package to support the development of the city, with Australia’s National Capital Authority to provide cooperation to Indonesia.

Widodo’s visit comes as the federal government is expected to finalise its Southeast Asia economic strategy to 2040 in the coming weeks.

#Business #travel #Indonesians #Australia #easier #deal #national #leaders