WASHINGTON -- President Reagan welcomed Indonesian President Suharto to the White House with full ceremonial honors today and said the United States applauds Indonesia's pursuit of independence and 'genuine non-alignment.'
The 61-year-old Asian leader, wearing a dark suit and a fez, was making his third state visit to the United States during his 16-year presidency and his first in 12 years.
'I'm sure our talks will strengthen the bonds of friendship and mutual respect between our two countries,' Reagan told Suharto at the conclusion of a formal welcoming ceremony of military fanfare and flourishes.
Reagan said the United States 'applauds Indonesia's quest for what you call national resilience. No nation in our era has shown itself more firmly committed to preserving its own independence than Indonesia ....'
Suharto, said Reagan, has 'brought credit to the concept of genuine non-alignment. We understand the striving of Indonesia for national resilience. We wholeheartedly respect it.'
Economic matters were expected to figure prominently in the talks between Reagan and Suharto, and Reagan said it is 'in the clear interest of both our countries to maintain and improve economic and trade relations, mutually beneficial economic imports; and an equitable two way trade ....'
Suharto is seeking broader U.S. markets for his nation's textile industry and believes trade relations are too narrowly based, on oil alone.
Reagan also reaffirmed U.S. support for the Association of Southeast Asia Nations or ASEAN, telling Suharto that as a founding father of the organization 'you deserve a great measure of credit for accomplishments of the organization in the economic and social areas.'
'Let me assure you,' Reagan said, 'that support for ASEAN has been and will continue to be a keystone of American policy in Asia.
Speaking through an interpreter, Suharto said he hoped the visit would 'enhance the future of understanding between our two countries, as well as expand the cooperation in various fields which are mutually beneficial to both peoples.'
After the ceremony, Reagan and Suharto adjourned to the Oval Office to begin their formal talks that followed a two-day stop by Suharto in the West Virginia resort of White Sulphur Springs.
Among the subjects expected to be raised during the Reagan-Suharto talks were two-way trade and increased cooperation in scientific, technical and economic endeavors, a senior U.S. official said.
Suharto's request would come at a time when the White House, faced with an unemployment rate of 10.1 percent, is trying to put 11.3 million jobless Americans back to work.
The U.S. textile industry -- centered in the economically hard-hit South -- opposes a reduction in import restrictions, fearing such a cut would further boost its jobless figures.
At the same time, Reagan wants today's meetingto underscore strong relations between the United States and Indonesia.
Suhart also was to have a private lunch with the president. Afterwards, he was to meet with Vice President George Bush and Secretary of State George Shultz.
Tonight, Reagan holds a White House dinner in Suharto's honor.
In addition to trade restrictions, discussions between Suharto and the Reagan administration were expected to touch on the Middle East, East-West relations and the security of Southeast Asia.
A Reagan administration official last week said:
'We want this trip to emphasize the broad range of common U.S.-Indonesian interests. We want to make clear, in our personal contacts with the Suhartos ... that the United States views Indonesia as a front-rank power in Asia.'
However some touchy issues are likely to come up, including Indonesia's nervousness about closer U.S.-China relations and Japan's new defense responsibility for sea lanes 1,000 nautical miles from Tokyo (Japanese troops occupied Indonesia during World War II). Reports of famine and human rights abuses on the island of East Timor, seized by Indonesia in 1975, also couldcome up for discussion.
Suharto, who does not go by a first name, began his five-day trip to the United States Sunday at the West Virginia resort. His entourage numbers about 50 and includes his wife, Tien Suharto, and members of his Cabinet.
Suharto goes to Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday for a tour of the Kennedy Space Center. Later that day, he is to visit the Houston heart clinc of Dr. Michael Debakey, one of the world's top heart surgeons.
The Indonesian president wants to establish a heart clinic in his country. An senior official, asked about the Cape Canaveral visit, said 'Suharto's a space buff.'
