REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi held bilateral talks with her Australian counterpart Julie Bishop in the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang on Friday to discuss Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's planned visit to Indonesia.

"We have discussed the new Australian prime minister's planned visit (to Indonesia). We are trying to decide on the appropriate time for the visit as several ministers will be part of it," Marsudi noted after holding the bilateral talks.

Bishop said he was eagerly awaiting the meeting between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Turnbull aimed at serving as a follow-up to their positive and constructive talks held shortly after the Australian prime minister took office.

"We hope Prime Minister Turnbull would visit Indonesia this year, and we are waiting for the meeting to be held between the two leaders to follow up on the positive and constructive talks between them as well as to continue cooperation as neighbors, friends, and players in the region and the world," he emphasized.

At the meeting, the two foreign ministers also discussed Australian Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb's planned visit to Indonesia from November 17 to 20, 2015. Robb is expected to lead a 250-strong Australian business delegation during the four-day visit.

Indonesia and Australia have also agreed to a two-plus-two meeting between the foreign ministers and defense ministers of the two countries on December 21, 2015.

Friday's meeting between the two foreign ministers took place on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting held in the West Sumatra provincial capital. Indonesia has been appointed as new chairman of the association for the 2015-2017 term, replacing Australia.

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