President Jokowi Attends 2017 National Christmas Celebration

President Jokowi attends the 2017 National Christmas Celebration at Rumah Radakng, Pontianak, West Kalimantan Province, on Thursday (28/12)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo during the 2017 National Christmas Celebration reminded all Christians in Indonesia to never get tired of working.

“Never get tired of working in God’s way. Never be tired of working on our own fields, regardless of your profession, job, or social status, whether you are a trader, a driver, a farmer, a labor, a civil servant, an Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) officer, or an Indonesian National Police (Polri) officer. Never be tired of working for the progress and prosperity of our nation and country,” President Jokowi said in his remarks at the event, held at Rumah Radakng, Pontianak, West Kalimantan Province, on Thursday (28/12).

The President further said that God has blessed us to live in our beloved country, Indonesia, with abundant natural resources.

“However, God never wants us to do nothing. We must keep trying, working hard, and praying so that Indonesia can be a developed nation and a winner in order to bring prosperity and social justice to all Indonesians,” the President added.

Also on that occasion, President Jokowi added that Indonesia is currently on a journey to become a developed country and is now developing every corners of the country, developing rural areas and outermost islands, developing border areas as the frontier verandas of the Republic.

“We are sailing towards a developed country by developing our human resources. Once again, developing Indonesians (to become) excellent, resilient, and dignified citizens,” the President firmly said.

The journey towards the nation’s progress requires roles from all elements of the nation including the Christians so that they will become the best on their own respective fields, the President added

“(We aim) to become optimistic resilient people who always live with the love in the heart and always helps others, and work together,” the President added.

Also attending the event were Indonesia’s sixth Vice President Try Sutrisno, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan who is also Chairman of 2017 National Christmas Celebration, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukita, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief Tito Karnavian, and Governor of West Kalimantan Cornelis. (BPMI/EN) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)