President Jokowi Welcomes New Australian Home Affairs Minister at Merdeka Palace

President Jokowi meets with Australian Home Affairs Minister at the Merdeka Palace, Monday (5/3). (Photo by: Bureau of Press and Media).

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo met with Australian Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton, who was just appointed in December last year, in a courtesy call on Monday (5/3) at the Merdeka Palace.

It was his first official visit since his appointment as minister.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said that Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull through Mr. Dutton invites President Jokowi to attend the ASEAN-Australia Summit.

On that occasion, Mr. Dutton also introduced himself to President Jokowi and explained his duties as Home Affairs Minister, Retno said.

“Mr. Dutton paid a courtesy call to President Jokowi and conveyed the invitation of Prime Minister Turnbull to attend the ASEAN-Australia Summit in the middle of this month,” Retno said on Monday (5/3).

“President Jokowi said that inshallah (God willing), he would attend the Summit and discuss several issues with Prime Minister Turnbull during the bilateral talk,” Retno added.

Also joining the President during the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung. (BPMI/EN) (EP/YM/Naster)