Oz Prime Minister Joins President Jokowi to Cycle Around Bogor Palace

President Jokowi and PM Anthony Albanese cycling at Bogor Botanical Garden, Monday (06/06). (Photo by: BPMI Presidential Secretariat/Laily Rachev)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Monday (06/06) invited Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese to join him to ride a bamboo bicycle as part of a series of official welcoming ceremony at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java province.

“Since the weather is good and riding bicycle is environmentally friendly, I figure we should start conveying the importance of environmentally friendly vehicles. Besides, this is my regular route for exercising,” President Jokowi said at Resto Raasaa, Bogor Botanical Garden.

On that occasion, PM Albanese stated that cycling with President Jokowi is an extraordinary experience.

“It was a wonderful experience and I consider it a great honor that the President invited me to ride the bamboo bicycle with him to this beautiful place in the botanical garden,” he said.

PM Albanese also considered that cycling symbolizes friendship between Australia and Indonesia.

“President Jokowi even has offered to take the bicycle back to Australia and you will see me riding the only bamboo bicycle in Canberra. Whatsoever, it was an amazing experience and every time I ride this bicycle, I will remember the friendship with President Widodo,” he added.

For the record, the bamboo bicycle used is the work of Singgih S. Kartono from Temanggung regency, Central Java province, and is designed for use on the highway.

After cycling, the two leaders then held a tête-à-tête talk in the white stone garden area of Resto Raasaa for about 30 minutes before returning to the Bogor Presidential Palace by using a golf cart to hold a bilateral meeting between the two countries. (BPMI Presidential Secretariat/UN) (GWH/HD/EP)