Given the background of testy relations between Indonesia and Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad's visit here has proved remarkably successful for both sides. In politics – and economics – the two countries gained something each.
For President Abdurrahman Wahid, he set back the independence movement in the restive province, by getting the Malaysian Prime Minister to support an Aceh that would remain part of Indonesia. It is one step along a long, arduous path for Indonesia to neutralise the Aceh threat.
Malaysia, which is arguably the foreign country most involved in Aceh by virtue of geographical proximity and political linkages built over the last few decades, has effectively signalled to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) that it should not look to the country as a safe haven anymore.
Notwithstanding what some critics of Dr Mahathir might suggest as "empty promises", it is symbolically important for the Malaysian leader to have made that pledge not to help the rebels on Indonesian soil.
Domestically, Mr Abdurrahman has created some confidence that the Aceh threat can be neutralised even if the path ahead is arduous. It consolidates further his grip on the Indonesian armed forces (TNI) and other detractors who might want to use the Aceh problem, among others, to destabilise the new regime. In Malaysia's case, there was perhaps less to be gained. There were some useful outcomes in terms of economic cooperation with proposals for greater investment and more landing rights for its national airline in Indonesia.
Both sides also discussed the possibility of setting up a joint financial centre to be based in Brunei "to facilitate financial affairs" of the three countries. In concrete terms, eight MOUs were signed, including deals between both national banks and a code-sharing agreement between Malaysian Airlines and Garuda.
Dr Mahathir also moved Indonesia a bit closer to Malaysia's pet international themes, with undertones of hostility towards the West, admonishing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and pursuing an independent path in economic policies. Mr Abdurrahman's praise for Malaysia's New Economic Policy (NEP) plays well back in the KL political gallery.
The real challenge for Malaysia is to start building links with a new administration in Jakarta, and one devoid to the core given the absence of the Umno-Golkar links that held both countries for more than a decade. Geography is a permanent fact of international life.
Malaysia will not want to leave a gap in their ties with neighbouring Indonesia which took a dip last year after sympathies were expressed by some Indonesian leaders for the plight of Dr Mahathir's jailed former deputy Anwar Ibrahim.
The economic platform and the presence of a huge delegation of government officials, businessmen, and youth leaders from Malaysia is really aimed at starting the process of building links at all levels with the new power brokers.
The crucial factor here is the personal ties between the 59-year-old Islamic cleric and one of Asia's longest serving leaders. Both have divergent political styles that have made relations prickly.
Mr Abdurrahman is known to have had expressed reservations against KL for the treatment of Anwar. But during his visit to Malaysia less than a month after taking office last October, he took pains to mend fences. He did not raise the Anwar issue with Dr Mahathir and left with substantial pledges of economic aid.
But that changed when Malaysia appeared to backtrack on its offer of assistance. Taking what some might consider to have been a swipe at KL, Mr Abdurrahman said that Indonesian Cabinet ministers should not be like their counterpart in Malaysia who spent most of their time in the golf course, much to the chagrin of Dr Mahathir and friends.
The rapprochement between both leaders since then has been very much a function of the President's aim to put an end to the Aceh problem.