President Jokowi Pays a Return Visit to South Korea

President Jokowi welcomed by South Korean officials in Seoul Air Base, Seongnam, South Korea, Sunday (9/9). (Photo by: Rahmat/Public Relations).

The visit of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to South Korea is a reciprocal visit after President Moon Jae-in visited Indonesia last year, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi after welcoming the President and his entourage at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Sunday (9/9).

“This year is important for both Indonesia and South Korea since we commemorate 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries,” the Minister, which was accompanied by the Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea Umar Hadi, said on her press conference.

The next day (10/9), according to Retno, will be a very busy day for President Jokowi because there will be approximately ten scheduled agendas for him to attend.

“Starting in the morning, there will be a one on one meeting with entrepreneurs/private companies here and continued to a business forum meeting,” the Minister said. There will be also a welcoming ceremony on the scheduled agendas, which will be a friendship talk between the President and the First Lady of the two countries.

Furthermore, Retno said that tomorrow President Jokowi is also slated to put a wreath on the heroes’ cemetery and have a lunch at the Indonesian Embassy as well as to launch an Indonesian citizen protection portal.

“Moreover, the President will hold a limited meeting with President Moon and followed by a plenary and a joint press conference and then a dinner,” the Minister said, adding that both countries in the last year posted a significant increase in trade of 19.2%.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Umar Hadi said that on Memorandum of Understanding to be signed, there are several sectors including automotive, metal industry, chemical, garment, foot ware, and start-up.

Accompanying the President during the state visit were Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Thomas Lembong. (DNS/EN) (GWH/YM/Naster)