Receives PM Rui Maria, President Jokowi: Indonesia and Timor Leste Not Just Friend

Presiden Jokowi accompanied by First Lady Iriana received the visit of East Timor Prime Minister, Rui Maria de Araujo, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (26/8)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) accompanied by First Lady Iriana receive the state visit of Prime Minister (PM) of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Rui Maria de Araujo and his wife, Teresa Antonio Madeira Soares at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (26/8) morning.

The event begins with a honor ceremony to welcome the Prime Minister Araujo in the yard of Merdeka Palace. These include a series of activities, Bilateral Meeting, Signing of the MoU, and the Joint Statement.

In his speech, President Jokowi thanked profusely for the visit of Prime Minister of East Timor with the whole delegation. “Indonesia and East Timor is not just a friend or neighbor, but we are very close relatives,” President Jokowi said.

Therefore, President Jokowi continued, the relationship between East Timor and Indonesia is a relationship of mutual respect, mutual understanding, and we want to see in the future of our relations will be better.

According to the President Jokowi, there are two important things that he will discuss with Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo, namely the issue of borders, both land and sea or maritime; and second, issues relating to economic relations, both trade and investment.

On that occasion President Jokowi accompanied by a number of Work Cabinet Ministers, among others, Coordinating Minister for Politics Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno Minister, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Agung, Minister of Agriculture Amran Nasution, SOE Minister Rini Soemarno, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, Minister of Finance Bambang Brodjonegoro, and others. (DND/RAH/ES)