President Jokowi Hosts G20 Leaders Luncheon

President Jokowi hosts a luncheon for the G20 Summit delegations, on Tuesday (11/15), at The Apurva Kempinski Hotel (Photo: PR Office of Cabinet Secretariat /Rahmat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo invited G20 leaders and invitees to have a lunch. The luncheon was held at Bamboo Dome, Ocean Front Lawn, The Apurva Kempinski Hotel, Nusa Dua, Badung regency, Bali province, on Tuesday (11/15).

The President headed to the location from Candi Ballroom, where the first session of the Summit was held, by driving a buggy car. Joining President Jokowi in the car were Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Mathias Cormann and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva.

At the venue, the President was having conversations with the other leaders, among others, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, President of the United Arab Emirates (UEA) Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres, Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“Welcome to the luncheon session,” President Jokowi greeted the delegations.

Afterwards, the President invited President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach and President of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) Gianni Infantino to deliver their remarks.

“At this luncheon session, I invite two guests to deliver their remarks. First, President of the IOC Mr. Thomas Bach and second, President of the FIFA Mr. Gianni Infantino,” President Jokowi said.

In his remarks, Thomas Bach expressed his appreciation for the G20 Summit’s theme “recover together, recover stonger” which is in line with the olympic’s theme “faster, higher, stronger together.”

“I appreciate President Joko Widodo for choosing the perfect theme for the Summit ‘recover together, recover stronger’ which is parallel to the new motto of the olympic ‘faster, higher, stronger together’,” Bach remarked.

Bach persuaded the G20 leaders to give the IOC the opportunity to contribute in promoting peace and understanding through sports.

 “Please support sports as you support so many UN resolutions and declaration. There are not many chances where all humankind can put aside our differences and unite in peace,” he pleaded.

Meanwhile, President of the FIFA Gianni Infantino encouraged the world leaders to consider the option of cease fire as the first step towards peace during a month of the World Cup competition.

“You are world leaders. You are capable of shaping history,” Gianni said.

Gianni also called on the leaders to take this chance to use various ways to end all conflicts that occur in the world.

“Football and the World Cup are all frames, you and the world are a unique platform of global unity and peace,” he said.

After the luncheon session, President Jokowi with the G20 leaders and invitees posed for a group photo. (MAY/UN)(AW/MMB)