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ndonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Austrian President Heinz Fischer are expected to ink an agreement on interfaith dialogues during Fischer’s state visit to Jakarta next week.

Fischer is scheduled to visit Indonesia from Tuesday until Thursday, along with several of Austrian ministers, 53 prominent businessmen and several academics.

“Both sides will sign a memorandum of understanding [MoU] on expanded cooperation on interfaith dialogs,” according to a press release issued on Friday by the Indonesian President’s special assistant for international affairs.

“This cooperation is expected to help improve mutual understanding of each other’s cultures and
traditions.”

On the first day of his visit, Fischer will meet with Yudhoyono to discuss bilateral cooperation on political, economic, trade, investment and development issues in addition to interfaith cooperation, the statement said.

On Thursday, Fischer is scheduled to lay a garland at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta and to visit Jakarta Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Indonesia, and Istiqlal Mosque, the country’s largest mosque.

He will also pay a courtesy call to House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie.

Fischer’s visit to Indonesia will likely be overshadowed by the anticipated arrival of US President Barack Obama next week.

Obama left Washington for India on Friday on the first leg of his Asian trip and may visit Indonesia on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The US president’s itinerary includes stops in Seoul, South Korea, for the G20 Summit from Nov. 11-12 and in Yokohama, Japan, for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting from Nov. 13-14.