World Leaders, Special Envoys Arrive in Indonesia Ahead of Presidential Inauguration
World leaders and special envoys from numerous friendly nations began arriving in Indonesia on Friday (18/20) to attend the inauguration of the President and Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2024-2029 term of office.
These arrivals signaled not only their participation in the official ceremony but also their commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations and enhancing future cooperation.
At Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta, the first to arrive was Germany’s Special Envoy and President for the 2010-2012 term of office, Christian Wulff, who landed at 15.50 Western Indonesian Time (WIB) on Friday (10/18). This visit highlighted Germany’s attention to Indonesia’s political development and the desire to strengthen bilateral relations.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles touched down in the evening at around 20.00 WIB. This underscored Australia’s continued role as a strategic partner for Indonesia.
Shortly afterward, at 20.35 WIB, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape arrived. His visit highlighted the close ties between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, two countries that share a land border.
On Saturday (10/19), Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah landed at around 12:40 PM, showing the Middle Eastern country’s strong relationship with Indonesia.
At 17.00 WIB, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Suriya Jungrungreangkit arrived. This visit reflected the longstanding cooperation between the two ASEAN members across various multilateral forums.
Following that, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim landed at 18.10 WIB, whose arrival reinforced the solid bilateral relations between Malaysia and Indonesia, particularly in strategic sectors.
Meanwhile, at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the first to arrive was Türkiye’s Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, who touched down on Saturday (10/19) at 15.00 WIB. His arrival signified growing relations between Indonesia and Türkiye, especially in defense and trade.
An hour later, at 16.00 WIB, two more special envoys landed: Komura Masahiko from Japan and Ian McKay from Canada, both representing their respective prime ministers.
Not long after, at 17.10 WIB, France’s special envoy François Corbin arrived. This arrival reinforced Indonesia’s significant relation with France as its strategic partner.
The day continued with the expected arrival of Special Envoy of the British Prime Minister David Lammy at 22.20 WIB, who is set to convey the United Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation with Indonesia.
More dignitaries are slated to touch down on Sunday (10/20). Italy’s Undersecretary of State for Defense and Special Envoy of the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic Matteo Perego di Cremnago Deputy Minister of Defense and special envoy of the President of the Council of Ministers is expected to land at 07.40 WIB. He will bring key messages on strengthening cooperation between Indonesia and Italy across various sectors.
Shortly after, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Special Envoy of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, is set to arrive at 08.00 WIB. His visit would highlight the increasingly close ties between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, which is one of Indonesia’s key partners in the Middle East.
The presence of these leaders and special envoys from across the globe reflects Indonesia’s significant standing in international relations. The presidential inauguration provides a unique diplomatic opportunity for Indonesia to solidify strategic partnerships and promote cooperation in areas such as economics, education, and security, both within ASEAN and with countries across the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/ABD) (DH/LW)