Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has wrapped up talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Bogor, outside Jakarta.
In his first foreign trip since replacing former prime minister Julia Gillard, Mr Rudd spoke with the Indonesian leader about asylum seeker issues, trade and economic ties.
While questions of asylum seeker policy dominated the lead-up to the talks, Mr Rudd's emphasis was also firmly on the two nations' business relationship.
Calliste Weitenberg reports.
The two leaders stood side by side as they addressed the media after two hours of talks inside Bogor Palace.
At the top of agreements between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was the need for a shared regional responsibility in response to the rising number of asylum seekers.
Speaking through an interpreter, President Yudhoyono's message was clear.
"(Through interpreter) Prime Minister Rudd and I share the same views that all parties must be responsible. And they all must take action that is concrete. It is not fair if this is only burdened towards Indonesia and Australia."
Mr Yudhoyono says a new regional ministerial meeting will take place in a bid to address the issue of asylum seekers.
It will involve representives from key origin, transit and destination countries of asylum seekers, including Afghanistan, Iran and Myanmar.
Prime Minister Rudd welcomed the initiative.
"As the President of Indonesia just said, this problem of people smuggling is a problem for our entire region. Therefore the President's initiative is for all of us to work now together and I salute you Mr President on your bold intitiative in hosting in the immediate period ahead a ministerial conference to bring about concrete actions to reduce this problem for all of us."
But Prime Minister Rudd's visit was also about the two nations' business ties.
He says Australia needs to do more to boost the trade of cattle with Indonesia.
In 2011, the federal government temporarily suspended live cattle exports to the south-east Asian country over treatment of Australian animals in Indonesian abattoirs.
A new Indonesia-Australia Red Meat and Cattle Forum will now see an investment of $60 million over ten years towards increasing Indonesia's supply.
And although he sees animal welfare as an ongoing challenge, Mr Rudd says Australia must relax constraints on cattle exports to Indonesia, which were introduced when trade was restored.
That's good news, according to President Yuhoyono.
(through interpreter) "The need for beef and also cows continue to increase the need, the demand for cattle, because the consuming class continues to increase and therefore the increase in significant numbers the desire for beef and the demand for cattle and demand for beef and therefore the cow populations conducted by Indonesia even though we too are increasing the production of cattle, beef domestically, nationwide, Indonesia, there is still a shortage of supply."
Mr Rudd says both countries could export cattle around the world if they work together.
"Good for Australian beef industry, good for Indonesian investors and good also for Indonesian consumers."
Earlier, Mr Rudd also addressed a forum of business leaders.
Indonesia is currently Australia's twelfth largest trading partner and eleventh largest export market.
They are figures Mr Rudd wants improved through new, shared infrastructure projects and education opportunities.
Mr Rudd says the country is experiencing rapid social change, a burgeoning middle class and is set to become a leader among the world's economies.
"Today as the centre for global economic gravity shifts to Asia, Indonesia is poised to take its place as one of the world's largest economies. A trillion dollar economy in the next few years, number seven in the world by two-thousand-thirty, number four by two-thousand-fifty. A rise as rapid as it is impressive... It's important that Australian business take note."
Amid it all there was also a message to the country's youth.
"Indonesia is the world's third largest market for Facebook and Jakarta is the most active Twitter city in the world. I'm a bit of a Twitter kid myself so I hope to pick up a few fans while I'm here or a few followers. So if you're listening in Indonesian media, just join us on K-Rudd Twitter and I'll send you a greeting in my fluent Bahasa Indonesian."
During his stay, the prime minister presented the Indonesian president with a yellow rose, taken from Parliament House in Canberra.
It is to be planted in Jakarta's Presidential palace.
The gift was accompanied by a key message.
"Something big is happening in Indonesia and everyone in Australia and the world should pay attention."
