The Indonesian President informed Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung about the plan in a telephone conversation he made immediately after his talks with State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

He said he returned home to directly guide search and rescue operations at an area off the west coast of Sumatra, where an earthquake-triggered tsunami killed more than 100 people and left over 500 others missing.

The Indonesian President affirmed that he will come back to Hanoi on October 30 for the East Asia Summit (EAS) and related meetings as part of the 17^th ASEAN Summit.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, Prime Minister Dung expressed his deep sympathy with the Indonesian Government and people over heavy losses in life and property caused by the twin disasters.

He also expressed his belief that the Indonesian Government and people, especially those in the disaster-hit area, would soon overcome the consequences of these disasters and stabilise their lives.

PM Dung welcomed the Indonesian President’s decision to go to Hanoi for the EAS and the 17^th ASEAN Summit’s related meetings later this week.