President Halonen travelling to southeast Asia

Office of the President of the Republic of Finland Press Release 25 January 2008

President of the Republic Tarja Halonen will make state visits to three Southeast Asian countries in February 2008. President Halonen and Dr Pentti Arajärvi will visit Indonesia on 18-19 February, Singapore on 20 February and Vietnam on 21-23 February.

In Indonesia President Halonen will meet with political leaders and participate in a seminar on economic relations between Finland and Indonesia. She will also visit Aceh to learn more about the peace process as well as reconstruction in the area that was hit by the tsunami.

From Indonesia President Halonen will travel to Singapore, where she will meet with the nation's leaders as well as Finns working in the area.

In Vietnam the programme during the state visit will include meetings with political leaders, a business seminar, a panel on women's position and equality, and a trip to the Haiphong area, where President Halonen will learn more about development cooperation projects that have received Finnish funds.

President Halonen will be accompanied by Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen and a high-level business delegation led by Mr Antti Herlin, the Chairman of the Board of the Confederation of Finnish Industries.