President Jokowi to Visit Australia

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of BKPM, delivers a press statement regarding the plan of President Jokowi to visit Australia, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/2) afternoon. (Photo: Rahmat/PR)

After the visit to Australia was cancelled several months ago, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is scheduled to pay a state visit to Australia this weekend, from Saturday (25/2) to Sunday (26/2).

“So, the President will depart on 23 February to Ambon. In Ambon, the President will attend Tanwir (enlightenment meeting) of Muhammadiyah. Then, the President is slated to go to Bali to attend Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Forum, and then to Australia,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said to the reporters after a limited meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/2).

According to Pramono Anung, there are several issues to be discussed in the visit, among others, the settlement of IA-CEPA (Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement), cyber security, tourism, mining, and issues related to terrorism.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, A. M. Fachir, added that in the visit, the priority is to strengthen the relations of the two countries so they respect each other and has a mutual relationship. “Therefore, people to people approach is important. The Government will also make an all-out effort to resolve IA-CEPA issue and to attract a number of investors,” Fachir told the reporters.

For the record, according to Fachir, there are a lot of people who are interested to learn Indonesian language in Australia. There are about 160,000 Australians who learn this language. The Deputy Minister thinks that this is Indonesia’s asset that can be used to enhance cooperation as well as to promote a number of tourist destinations in Indonesia.

He firmly said that the President’s visit to Australia is a state visit. Thus, President Joko Widodo will be officially received by the Governor General and there will be a bilateral meeting.

“So, the President, accompanied by several ministers, will have a meeting with the Prime Minister of Australia and his ministers,” Fachir explained adding that there will be also a business meeting among businessmen of the two countries. (FID/DNA/RAH/ES)(MMB/YM/Naster)