Introductory Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia during Bilateral Meeting with President of the Republic of the Philippines at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province, September 5, 2022
President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
His Excellency President Marcos and the Philippines delegates,
It is an honor for me to receive His Excellency’s first overseas visit. The visit confirms bilateral relations between the two countries under your presidency. I believe the relations between Indonesia and the Philippines are getting closer. I would also like to extend my deepest condolences for the passing of the 12th President of the Philippines His Excellency Mr. Fidel Ramos last July.
Following the tête-à-tête meeting, I would like to address bilateral and regional cooperation. But first of all, I would like to invite President Marcos Jr. to deliver Your Excellency introductory remarks.
President of the Republic of the Philippines (Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.)
Thank you, Mr. President.
As you have mentioned, we had a very fruitful discussion. Just now, we had a quick tête-à-tête. The significance that I chose Indonesia, Jakarta, to be my first visit of my presidency because of many reasons. One of those is that we are close in terms of, not only geographical location but we are close in terms of culture, we are close in terms of ethnicity and I think that it is going to be the strong partnerships that we will make, as we slowly come out of the pandemic economy is what is going to lead us to success.
That is why we go once again to our friends and to our partners around the world, especially in the region, especially together with we spoke about the ASEAN member countries and the common concerns that we share. So again, it is those partnerships I believe that will keep the stability of all of our plans and what we are hoping to do in the next few years.
I would like to thank your government and you, Mr. President, for your kind invitation. I think although it is the first time I have been to Jakarta, we look around and it feels like home. Only because you are so warm, you have welcomed us so warmly and we have felt the willingness of Indonesia to go into partnership with the Philippines and to strengthen the partnership that we are going to celebrate the 75th year in two years’ time, and I think it is one of longest diplomatic relations.
In fact, we had relationships before we had countries. Indonesia and the Philippines were trading, exchanging. Our family members [were] going back and forth from our southern islands to Indonesia for thousands of years. So that is why, it is very natural for us in the Philippines to come. I think we made the right choice and we thank you once again for the openness with which you have received us and the willingness with which you have shown to strengthen that relationship between the Philippines and Indonesia, which is our hope and it is what we are going to be working for.
Thank you Mr. President.
(RIF/HD/LW)