President Jokowi Welcomes Japanese PM at Bogor Palace

President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana welcome Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his wife Mariko Suga, at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Tuesday (12/10). (Photo: PR/Agung)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo on Tuesday (20/10) welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his spouse Mariko Suga at Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java province.

“Welcome to Indonesia. It is an honor for me and all Indonesian people to welcome Your Excellency,” President Jokowi said at the start of the meeting.

President Jokowi and his Japanese counterpart also took part in an official welcoming ceremony, which was held at the front terrace of the palace

National anthem of both countries were played, interspersed with the thump of cannon which was echoed 19 times.

On that occasion, both leaders introduced their respective delegation. President Jokowi was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir, and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo Tri Purnajaya.

After taking a group photo and signing a guestbook, the President and the Prime Minister had a veranda talk at the Palace’s back terrace followed by a tête-à-tête and bilateral meeting.

For the record, PM Suga’s visit to Indonesia and Vietnam was his first state visit after being inaugurated on 16 September 2020.

The visit also marked the first state visit to Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, several adjustments were made at the welcoming ceremony, such as limiting the number of honor guards and maintaining a safe distance.

The President also expressed high appreciation for the Japanese PM’s visit amid the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the visit shows a strong commitment of cooperation between the two countries.

“This visit is a symbol of a strong commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation between Indonesia and Japan as an implementation of the strategic partnership between the two countries,” he said.

After the bilateral meeting, the two leaders also delivered a joint press statement, followed by a state dinner in the evening. (FID / UN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti/Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas/Mia Medyana