Heavy rain during Wen’s visit seen as good luck: Minister

Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said Saturday that the heavy rains that welcomed Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao at a business meeting “Indonesia-China: Strategic Business Dialog” at the Grand Hyatt Jakarta, was believed to be a sign of good luck.

“Rain means good luck in Chinese tradition. We always hope the rain comes during Imlek [Chinese new year] celebration as a sign that we will have a prosperous year. Today, a heavy rain has poured before the dialog began,” she said, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Wen was scheduled to have a dialog with Vice President Boediono and Indonesian businesspeople.

Mari, who was appointed as the dialog moderator, expected that the dialog and the MoU signing between Chinese and Indonesian businesspeople would bring benefits for two countries. “We expect more than dialog, but also an improvement for future trade and investment,” she said.