Bhuiyan, who is here is connection with a regional meeting on rural development, conveyed to the Indonesian President the warm greetings of President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

He expressed Dhaka's deep satisfaction at the visit that President Megawati undertook to Bangladesh in June and said Bangladesh considered the visit as highly successful and productive.

Megawati recalled her visit to Bangladesh as highly satisfying and said she had extended an invitation to Khaleda to visit Indonesia and is hoping that the visit would take place sometime soon.

Bhuiyan discussed with her different issues of bilateral and common interests, including trade, closer understanding on regional and international matters as well as bolstering the cooperation, particularly in the fields of culture and education, and rural development.

He sought Indonesian support for Dhaka's membership in the regional forum ARF, activating the joint economic commission (JEC) that was set up in principle earlier and a new cultural and educational agreement.

Megawati agreed to closer ties between the two countries and expressed satisfaction at the steady development of the Dhaka-Jakarta relationship.

She said the two countries can have more cooperation in new areas from which both will be benefited.

She said Indonesia will be hosting the 50th anniversary of the Asia-Africa conference in the historic city of Bandung in 2005 and invited Bangladesh to participate in the highest level at the summit celebrations.

Bhuiyan was accompanied by Rural Development and Cooperatives Division Secretary Hedayetul Islam Chowdhury and Bangladesh Ambassador to Indonesia Nasim Firdous.

Another report says, Bhuiyan yesterday met Jusuf Kalla, Indonesian Minister for Coordinating Measures for People's Welfare and discussed with him different issues of common interest.

He also called on Aliarwan Hana, the State Minister for Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises. Bhuiyan told BSS that he had very useful talks with both the ministers pertaining to possibilities of cooperation between the two countries in various fields like cooperatives and areas of medium and small scale industries.