SBY to open ASEAN finance ministers' meeting in Bali

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left for Bali on Thursday as he is scheduled on Friday to officially open a meeting of finance ministers of ASEAN member states.

The President, accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono and a number of Cabinet Ministers, took off from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta at 2 p.m. on Thursday, and is scheduled to arrive at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport two-and-a-half hours later.

Yudhoyono is scheduled to officially launch the 15th annual meeting of ASEAN finance ministers, at the Bali International Convention Center in Nusa Dua, at 9 a.m. on Friday.

ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan, the Asian Development Bank president, and the International Monetary Fund managing director are among top executives expected to attend the event, which is part of a series of events ahead of the ASEAN Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Jakarta next month.

Yudhoyono is also scheduled to receive the ASEAN finance ministers and secretary-general while in Bali.