President Jokowi Meets Afghan President
President Jokowi talks with President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani before a bilateral meeting between the two countries at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday (5/4). (Photo by: Rahmat/Public Relations Division)
President Joko Jokowi Widodo on Wednesday met with President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.
Indonesia is the first country in South East Asia that the Afghan President visits in his visits to the region.
In his remarks after a bilateral meeting between delegates of the two countries, President Jokowi said that Afghanistan is one of the first countries that recognized the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.
According to the President, Afghanistan also played an important and active role in the success of the Asian African Conference held in Bandung, West Java, in 1955.
Relations between the two countries have been going on well and on friendly terms for 62 years. I believe, the visit of Your Excellency (President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, red) will further promote cooperation (between the two countries) in various fields, the President said.
The cooperation, President Jokowi said, is especially focused on peace building, capacity building, and trade.
In the meantime, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in his remarks said that it is an honor for him to be in Indonesia. Indonesia is a symbol of hopes. Indonesia is a symbol of success and the story of good leaders and good political, cultural, and global leadership, Ashraf Ghani said.
Ashraf added that Indonesia has a special place in his heart and especially because after the two countries have had relations for 62 years, this is the first time an Afghan President visits Indonesia.
Since I was a teenager, Ive always been familiar with Indonesian culture, the Afghan President further said.
Meanwhile, according to the press release of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia and Afghanistan had done cooperation in the fight against terrorism and irregular movement of persons, people smuggling. In the economic sphere, in Central Asia, Afghanistan is Indonesias second biggest export destination and trade partner after Iran. While for Afghanistan, Indonesia is the 14th biggest trade partner.
The total bilateral trade volume between the two countries last year reached US$16.25 million and Indonesia enjoyed a surplus of around US$16.19 million. (Dit Infomed Kemlu/FID/RAH/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)
